Poor Oral Care Could Lead to Cardiovascular Illnesses

Apr 23
09:10

2010

Brenda Kidd

Brenda Kidd

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Good oral care is vital to the proper function of every major organ in our bodies. It matters from head to toe and cannot be taken lightly. A disciplined regimen of daily dental care can sometimes mean the difference between and wholesome, healthy life or a life of pain and disease.

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Good oral health is not only crucial to your appearance and sense of well-being,Poor Oral Care Could Lead to Cardiovascular Illnesses Articles but also to your general physical condition.  Cavities and gum diseases would likely develop numerous serious ailments, including cardiovascular disease; all forms of diabetes, respiratory disease, and premature and low-weight babies, and has been connected to sleeping problems, as well as behavioral and developmental issues in small children. Untreated cavities can be painful and lead to serious infections.  Poor mouth conditions also impair your ability to chew up and process food properly.

 

We exercise and watch what we eat to help reduce our risk of heart attack, stroke and certain cancers.  In much the same way, we should take good care of our oral (dental) health now to prevent gum disease and tooth loss later.  Why is this so important?  The reasons are much more than cosmetic.  While we once believed the worst outcome of gum disease was tooth loss, we now know that oral health matters from head to toe.

 

For those with gum disorder, the common function of brushing the teeth or chewing gum could injure gum tissue, allowing germs to get into the bloodstream. It is believed that these microorganisms could move to different parts of the body, possibly exacerbating or causing other kinds of illnesses.  Periodontitis, or gum disease, can more than triple the possibilities of the person experiencing a heart attack or stroke and is also linked to all forms of diabetes.  It sparks an elevation in lipoproteins in the blood, along with low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) causing atherosclerosis, or artery hardening and narrowing.

 

Oral health means more than merely good-looking teeth and pleasant breath. Inadequate oral health and untreated dental illnesses and conditions might have a substantial bearing on quality of life, and in many cases, the condition of the mouth area mirrors the condition of the body as a whole.  For example, when the mouth area is healthy, it’s likely your overall health is good, too.  On the other hand, when you suffer poor oral hygiene, you could also have other health conditions.  Recent reports show a link between periodontal (gum) problems and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth-weight babies.  Likewise, over 90% of all systemic illnesses have dental manifestations.  That means the dental professional may perhaps be the first health professional to detect a health problem.

 

As with diabetic issues, the connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular conditions has been acknowledged — both in many cases are discovered together — but it still has not been determined conclusively whether there is a direct causal relationship linking them. (One explanation is that there are various other possible risk elements — like smoking and old age — that could lead both to gum disease and cardiovascular disease)  By the time we reach adulthood, the majority of us understand that the implications of not flossing are pretty tough on our teeth.  Routine flossing is a significant part of dental care and advances strong teeth and gums.  This painless daily ritual not only safeguards your mouth, but also could provide help to your heart and arteries.