Can a toothbrush help clean out your heart? Surprisingly, yes!
Brushing your teeth has been shown to be the first step in preventing periodontal disease that can lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes complications. Over 80%of adults have periodontal disease and most cases go undetected. The disease raises the level of harmful bacteria in the mouth, which travels through the bloodstream to other organs in the body, and can lead to a plaque buildup in arteries surrounding the heart. Your dentist can be your first line of defense in reducing the risk for many diseases.
Brushing and flossing are effective means of preventing periodontal disease, but diabetes can counteract these efforts. Diabetes can weaken your mouth’s ability to fight germs, increase blood sugar levels, and make periodontal disease more difficult to control. Your dentist may suspect diabetes if you brush and floss regularly and still have symptoms of periodontal disease. Nearly 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes, yet one-third of them are not aware they have the disease. Regular gum disease therapy and treatments can help avoid diabetes complications as serious as death.
As periodontal disease worsens, surgery may be needed to save your teeth. The more teeth a person has lost, the greater the risk for cardiovascular problems such as heart disease. Bleeding gums is just one of many symptoms of periodontal disease. Studies have shown links between periodontal disease and diabetes and heart disease. Diseased gums have even been found to raise the risk of pancreatic cancer. Periodontal disease works to destroy gums and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Be Proactive! Come to see me if you any of these symptoms/warning signs of periodontal disease:
• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Fums that have pulled away from teeth
• Bad breath
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