Did you realize that your oral health has a strong connection to your overall health? There’s even a popular phrase in the dental world: “The mouth is the gateway to the whole body.” One area where you can see this tie is between your gum health and heart health.
How Your Gums & Your Heart Are Connected
How your gums might have an effect on your heart may not be an obvious connection. While more research needs to be done, according to the Mayo Clinic, gum disease is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. This is because gum disease starts when bad bacteria builds up around the teeth, and then that bacteria can enter the bloodstream. There’s also the issue of gum disease leading to inflammation which can cause damage to blood vessels and make it harder for blood to flow to the heart.
What You Can Do
To keep your gum health in great condition, you don’t need to add a bunch of special steps to your dental routine. Instead, you just need to get in the habit of looking after your routine dental care every day. Routine dental care involves brushing at least two times a day and flossing at least once a day. Not so hard, right? In addition, don’t skip out on your regular dental checkups. At these visits, your dentist will be able to take a look at your gums and make sure they’re staying healthy.
Gum Care at Smiles Dental
At Smiles Dental, we provide periodontal disease treatment to stop gum disease in its tracks before it can do more damage to your oral health and your overall health. If you’re concerned about your gum health, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at one of our many locations in Washington and Oregon. Our doctors are here to ensure you have a healthy smile for years to come!
Discover the Smiles Dental difference today!
Are you ready for the happy, healthy smile of your dreams? When you choose Smiles Dental Services, you’re putting your smile in the hands of highly-trained professionals you can trust. Above all, we provide our patients with leading-edge dentistry that goes above and beyond to deliver high-quality results with a gentle, personal touch.