Do Not Forget About Dental Health When Considering Your Overall Health
Posted on 2/28/2019 by Dr. Bijan Modjtahedi
You eat right, you exercise at least five days a week. You are not a smoker, and you don't drink to excess. You make sure that your diet is full of good, healthy foods.
Your doctor is pleased with your overall health. But have you thought about your dental health as part of your overall health picture? If you haven't, you should. Dental health should be a part of your overall health plan. Keep reading for information on why this is so important.
The Link Between Dental Health and Overall Health
If you are brushing and flossing each day, you are well on your way to good dental health. However, your dentist may be able to help keep you healthier than just letting you know the status of your mouth.
First, there are connections between gum disease and other health issues.
Over half of adults in the United States are suffering from gum disease. If you don't have a handle on your gums, the same bacteria that cause gum disease can also cause disease in other parts of your body. Gum disease can cause mouth infections, but they can cause bacteria to spread into other areas of your body.
Research indicates that if you have gum disease, you are at greater risk of having heart disease and strokes. In addition, diabetics in particular need to be very careful to keep their mouths as healthy as possible, because gum disease is dangerous for diabetics. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease also need to be very careful, as these conditions can worsen with poor dental health.
Don't forget that your dentist is on the front lines for prevention of head and neck cancers, as they may spot possible signs of cancer long before you do. Head and neck cancers are found in 50,000 people every year, and ? of those people will die from the cancer.
Have questions about whether or not your mouth is in as good a shape as the rest of you? Why not give us a call for an appointment. We would love to talk to you about your dental health!