Happy Valentine’s Day from Lake Baldwin Dental! Did you know your oral health has a huge impact on your cardiovascular system? We are sharing the love today with some great advice on protecting your heart by maintaining your teeth.
Heart Disease In the US
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for all demographics, including “men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the US” according to the CDC. In fact, heart disease accounts for one in every four deaths in the US and kills over 600,000 people per year. Heart disease includes coronary artery disease like atherosclerosis as well as heart attack.
There are multiple factors that determine your risk for heart disease. Family history is one of the main elements that determines your risk for developing heart disease. However, it’s not the only thing. Heart disease risks can be hugely influenced by lifestyle and other diseases.
High blook pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use all have huge impacts on heart disease risks. Similarly, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity can increase your risks. Most of us are aware that unhealthy lifestyle habits can impact our heart health. However, many people are not aware just how much our oral health can also affect your risk level.
How Oral Health Can Affect Your Heart
It may seem crazy, but poor oral health can actually elevate your risk for heart disease. Research has shown links between oral health and many other systemic diseases. However, research shows gum disease is strongly correlated to coronary heart disease. While a direct causative relationship has not been proven, there is a clear connection between the two.
The connection appears to center on inflammation. Gum disease triggers the immune system to produce pro-inflammatory compounds like cytokines and c-reactive proteins. Over the long term, these compounds can travel through the blood stream to other parts of the body. Chronic inflammation is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease.
Beyond inflammation, the bacteria that cause gum disease may also influence the progress of vascular disease. Some studies have been able to isolate the same bacteria found to cause periodontal disease in arterial plaques and blockages of heart arteries. These plaques lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Simple Steps to Maintain Your Teeth and Protect Your Heart
Protecting your oral health also benefits your cardiovascular health. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to improve your dental health and help protect your heart!
- Keep up with regular cleanings and dental health checks. Most of us have delayed getting our regular cleanings at some point. Especially with the COVID situation these past couple of years, you may have fallen a little behind schedule. It’s never too late to catch up! Regular attention from your dental team can improve your oral health and reduce your risks for conditions like heart disease.
- Brush twice daily. We all know we’re supposed to brush twice every day, but sometimes we may fall short of the goal. Running late for work, or crashing on the couch after a long day might have us skipping every now and then. Do your best to maintain great brushing habits. Twice daily brushing will help keep bacterial levels under control and prevent inflammatory gum disease that can stress the rest of your body. Consider an electric toothbrush to make your brushing even more effective!
- Floss once every day. We know, we know. Flossing is a lot to ask. It’s a tough habit to get into and it’s easy to skip. However, flossing is the absolute best way to achieve ideal gum health. If you can’t bring yourself to floss, explore other options like a WaterPik!
- Get timely treatment. If your dentist recommends treatment, try your best not to delay! Timely treatment of cavities, cracks, and gum issues can minimize your cost and prevent the problem from getting worse.
We are here to support your oral health first and foremost. However, we also want to help improve your whole-body wellness at the same time! Call us today to get back on track with your regular dental health checks and take care of any treatments your teeth need. We’re here for you. Keep smiling with your whole heart, Orlando!
