Brushing and Flossing Can Save Your Life

By Felicia M. Nesbit, DDS, PC

Nesbit Center of Dental Excellence

. http://waldorfdentistry.com/

More Dental Health Articles

Brushing and Flossing Can Save Your Life

Brushing and flossing may actually save your life. Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It's typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, to build up on the teeth and harden. In advanced stages, periodontal disease can lead to sore, bleeding gums; painful chewing problems; and even tooth loss. Studies within the past 10 years have suggested an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and having difficulty controlling blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). One study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, develops when deposits of fats and other substances in your blood begin to stick to the sides of your arteries. These deposits, called plaques, can build up and narrow your arteries, clogging them like a plugged-up drain. If these plaques block the blood flow completely, you could have a heart attack or stroke, depending on the location of the blockage. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream through the gums. These same bacteria have been found clumped in artery plaques. So one theory is that the bacteria sticks to the fatty plaques in the bloodstream and directly contributes to blockages.

Other possibilities lie in the body's own defense mechanisms against bacteria. One of the body's natural responses to infection is inflammation (swelling). It's possible that as these oral bacteria and the inflammatory enzymes they produce travel through your body and trigger a similar response, causing the blood cells to swell. This swelling could then narrow an artery and increase the risk of clots.

If you're at risk of heart disease, do the obvious lose weight if you're overweight; eat healthy foods; exercise 3-4x week; control any conditions that increase risk, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure and visit your dentist regularly.