Prevent Heart Disease With Regular Dental Care
You may not see the connection between dental health and heart health, but there definitely is. A strong connection has been found between diabetes and heart disease. People who have diabetes can often benefit from periodontal treatment. A pattern of tooth loss has strong links to coronary artery disease. People who consistently have poor dental hygiene are at risk of bacterial infections in the bloodstream, and this can negatively impact the heart valves. If you have artificial heart valves, you would be at greater risk. Finally, anyone who develops periodontal disease has been shown to be much more likely to also develop heart disease, this may be the strongest evidence of a connection between the dental and heart health.
National Heart Health Month
February is National Heart Health Month, and a good reminder to consider dental hygiene and avoid the risk of heart disease. The first step to a good dental hygiene program is keeping regular dental appointments. A professional cleaning every six months does your oral health a world of good, and here’s why:
When you keep your six-month appointments, your dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar that accumulates around your teeth. Once this material hardens on to your teeth, it cannot be removed by brushing or flossing, and only your dentist can help. It’s important this material is removed; if allowed to accumulate, it will begin eating away at your tooth enamel, and promote the formation of cavities, and possibly gum disease. After a complete scaling, your hygienist will perform a thorough teeth cleaning and flossing to restart the next six-month period.
