Untangling the Relationship Between Your Dental Health and Heart Disease
Contributed by Lisa Smith.
Your oral health matters. Evidence indicating that your oral health is intricately intertwined with the health of your entire body is mounting. Multiple studies have shown a strong association between gum disease and heart disease.
Your teeth are embedded in your gums. If your gums become infected, the bacteria could enter your bloodstream and spread to your heart. The infection also triggers inflammation.
Keeping your teeth in good shape is simple. Brush and floss every day and visit the dentist twice a year. You can’t change your genetics and you can’t protect against every possible problem, but you can do a lot.
Inflammation
When you eat, you fill your mouth with food particles. Most of it goes down your threat to be digested but stray particles linger in the crevices between your teeth and your gums. Harmful bacteria thrive on the sugar and bits of food left behind.
Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can all help shield your teeth. If you miss a spot, however, the bacteria can grow until eventually your gums or even the tooth itself become infected. Once the infection hits your bloodstream, it can travel throughout your body.
To beat the infection, your body mounts an autoimmune response. What’s your body’s biggest weapon? Inflammation. When you’re injured, white blood cells stream into the area to eradicate dead and foreign cells.
