Oral Health - A Beautiful Smile

With growing confidence, physicians and dentists are confirming the powerful link between oral health and your risks of heart problems. The evidence doesn’t suggest that the link is causal—the condition of your mouth actually causing a heart attack—only that a clear association seems to exist.

For example the International Journal of Cardiology evaluated two groups of patients, one as a control group and the second a group of patients that had suffered a heart attack. The patient group that experienced a heart attack was found to have visibly worse oral health problems than the patients in the control group.

What is the link?

The medical community sees deteriorating oral health through conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis as sources of toxins that are circulated throughout the body as well as other forms of bacteria. These circulating toxins can negatively impact the functionality of your body’s arteries which are a key element of heart disease.

And the consensus is that toxins and bacteria from oral disease are capable of inflicting damage on other body systems. For example, links between oral health and other health conditions such as diabetes, alzheimers, various cancers and kidney problems have been identified.

The good news is that disease associated with teeth and gums can be managed and even reversed if action is taken in the early stages of the disease process. Research now is attempting to determine the overall impact to patient health if oral health can be improved early.

What we must all recognize is the inter-relationship of all the body’s systems. Clearly, a severe problem with one aspect of the system can negatively affect the other organs and systems of the body.

Estimates from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research suggest more than 8% of the population from age 20 to 64 have periodontal disease. Other research organizations believe the actually number could be near 1/3 of adults over the age of 30.
Take action now. Brush regularly. And start flossing if you don’t now. Be sure you have consistent dental appointments for cleaning, maintenance and early diagnosis of gum disease.

If you begin to have red, irritated or even bleeding gums during routine brushing and flossing, you may have early stage gum disease. Don’t disregard these important signs especially if they persist.

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About The Author:

Janet Shapan, has been a publisher, writer and media designer in the special interest magazine and TV production business for over 25 years. A Boomer, her passion is identifying and sharing current innovations in health, wellness and other lifestyle categories of interest to Seniors. For more information on Senior Living, visit: http://For-Seniors.org