Did you know that your oral health affects your overall health?

Failure to maintain a healthy mouth may eventually catch up and cause issues in other parts of your body. We’re not here to frighten you, but instead to give you more reasons why it’s important to take care of your mouth.

Recent studies show that there is a connection between oral health and overall health, and vise-versa, your overall health can affect your oral health.

Let’s start with how your mouth can affect the rest of your body. First of all, “ … the human mouth is a disgusting place,” said Gurgle from the movie Finding Nemo. He was right! We have a lot of bacteria in our mouth, but not all of it is bad if kept under control; however, if bacteria increases due to poor housekeeping, then it can cause issues.

Most common sign of poor oral health is gum disease or tooth decay. If gum disease is not treated early, the bacteria can penetrate through gums and enter the body’s blood stream, so that bacteria will then travel in the body and into the heart. This could be dangerous for anyone who has a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, along with other possible complications.

If you have certain health conditions, then your mouth may be at risk. For instance, people with diabetes become vulnerable to infections due to low blood sugar levels, so infections in the gums or other areas of the mouth may occur. Other health conditions can affect your oral health, so make sure to address that with your doctor during your visit.

You can keep your mouth healthy by following these simple steps:

• Brush your teeth twice a day, or after every meal if possible
• Floss at least 3 times a week
• Visit your dentist on a regular basis
• Switch to an electric toothbrush

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment for a check-up, please contact us our office or call us at 763-544-2213.