With February being National Heart Health Month, it is important to understand the mouth-body connection between your oral health and your overall health, specifically your heart health.
Though the reasons are not fully understood, it is clear that gum disease and heart disease often go hand in hand.
...(inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth), compared to 66% of people with no heart disease.
Some suspect that periodontitis has a direct role in raising the risk for heart disease as well. Bacteria found in both gum and heart diseases are similar. And, inflammation is a common denominator for both diseases: inflammation of the gums and hardening of the arteries is an inflammatory process.
Though the link between dental health and heart health is not completely clear, experts say it is important to take care of both. Along with annual medical evaluations, visit your dentist regularly and ask for a periodontal evaluation.
Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
Getting your teeth cleaned may give you more than a sparkling white smile -- it may give you something to smile about, like your health. Cleaning your teeth gets rid of bacteria in the mouth that can lead to chronic infection and inflammation, which can then spread to other parts of the body.
Scaling cleans between the gums and the teeth. And their risk of stroke dropped by 13%, says study researcher Zu-Yin Chen, MD, a cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Something as simple as having good dental hygiene -- brushing, flossing, and having regular cleanings -- may be good for your heart and brain health," says Ralph Sacco, MD, head of neurology at the University of Miami. Sacco, the immediate past president of the American Heart Association (AHA), was not involved with the work.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20111116/getting-your-teeth-cleaned-may-help-your-heart
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20111116/getting-your-teeth-cleaned-may-help-your-heart
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection
