Oral Health & Your Heart
Healthy Hygiene, Healthy Heart
Believe it or not, how you take care of your teeth and gums affects not only your oral health, but it impacts your cardiovascular health, too. Although scientists are not certain of the precise relationship between the heart and oral hygiene, studies consistently demonstrate a link.
It's possible that a mouth filled with bacteria and their toxins allows a continuous stream of poisons to enter the body's system. If the bacteria reach your arteries, they may cause the same kind of irritation they caused in your gums and mouth. Arterial wall irritations typically result in a buildup of protective plaque, which in turn can harden, thus blocking blood flow. Without sufficient blood flow, your heart vessels can become blocked, potentially leading to a heart attack. Furthermore, loosened arterial plaque can travel through the bloodstream, reach your brain, which may cause a stroke.
The health of your oral tissues is a barometer of the health of the rest of your body. If there is inflammation (i.e. gum disease) in your mouth, there may be inflammation in other areas of your body.
Prevention & Detection
One way we can fight this situation is to use a special bacterial neutralizing rinse immediately after dental procedures to reduce the possibility of bacteria entering your bloodstream. However, healthy mouth and gums are your best defense, so keep a regimen of daily brushing and flossing and regular dental as often as Dr. Hornstien recommends for you. Remember, gum disease and oral cancer are silent but serious problems that may go unnoticed without professional exams.
The Center for Advanced Dentistry…Where Holistic Health and Aesthetic Dentistry Come Together.
Call our Beachwood dental office to make an appointment with Dr. Hornstein. We serve residents from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and the surrounding areas.
