Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but you can still think about your heart! February is American Heart Health Month—the perfect time to learn how you can improve your cardiovascular health. While your physician would tell you to be active and exercise often, which you should certainly do, there’s an easy way to protect your heart that is often overlooked: keeping your mouth healthy.
Keep reading to learn how putting in a little effort to strengthen your smile can help your heart stay strong too!
How Your Mouth Affects Your Heart
At first, the relationship between the heart and mouth may seem simple: what you put in your mouth or eat can affect how well your heart performs. For instance, if you do not have a healthy diet, your heart may have to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, putting unnecessary stress on this critical muscle.
But did you know that the connection is even more direct than you may think? Your mouth is filled with bacteria, and if you do not keep this microbiome under control, harmful ones can spread to other areas in your body and cause problems for your heart.
Gum Disease and Heart Disease
Gum disease occurs when certain bacteria cause inflammation and bleeding in the gum tissue. What may seem like a small annoyance is the first stage of gum disease (also called periodontal disease) called gingivitis. Without treatment, this condition can ultimately lead to gum recession, permanent teeth feeling loose, and even tooth loss.
Unfortunately, the ill effects of gum disease don’t end there. These inflammation-causing bacteria could travel through the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and circulation issues. Arteries can become more restricted, increasing your risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a cardiovascular event. In fact, those who have untreated gum disease are far more likely to have heart disease than those with healthy smiles.
In other words, if you take good care of your mouth, you also take care of your heart!
How to Keep Your Gums and Mouth Healthy
The best defense against gum disease is to prevent it entirely. Fortunately, simple choices in your lifestyle can reduce your risk of getting infected gums. These smart, healthy choices include the following:
- Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice daily
- Flossing at least once daily
- Visiting your dentist at least two times per calendar year for cleanings and checkups.
- Drinking water throughout the day
- Eating more mouth-friendly foods, such as leafy greens, apples, and carrots
- Limiting sugar intake
If you already have gum disease, you need to seek treatment from your dentist, who can administer therapy to get rid of the calculus and bacteria both above and below the gumline. Some practices even use a soft tissue laser to remove infected tissue and expedite healing.
Having strong oral health may not entirely prevent heart disease, but it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle that can reduce your risk. By putting in some time and effort into your smile, you can keep your heart happy too!
About the Practice
At Beach Dental, we’re concerned not just about your oral health but your overall well-being also. Dr. Jason Parli and Dr. Alexis Gerston take the time to learn about each patient’s needs and goals and provide essential services for a healthy smile and a healthy heart. If you think you could have gum disease, contact Beach Dental to schedule an appointment or give the office a call at 631-325-0731.