While many people understand that actively caring for their teeth and gums keeps their smile beautiful and functional, most don’t realize the significant connection between their oral health and overall well-being.
Our professional staff at the office of Lawrence M. Saltzman, DDS, want patients to understand that taking action to preserve your dental anatomy also maintains the state of your body.
Take Care of Your Smile
Complications may arise in a patient’s physical health due to a spread of bacteria that has built up on your teeth or surrounding structures from lack of proper dental care.
An infection that begins in the mouth can travel to the rest of the body and negatively impact your well-being. Caring for any early signs of disease or concerns regarding your teeth and gums prevents further oral or bodily complications from occurring.
For example, harmful bacteria that has built up in the smile can make its way up to the brain through the connecting nerve channels. This increases a patient’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, reducing one’s mental functions. An infection may also spread to a patient’s lungs and cause respiratory issues, making the patient more susceptible to pneumonia.
The Gum and Heart Connection
The connection between gum disease and the heart can compound quickly if left untreated. While individuals often believe that bleeding of the gums is normal when performing their oral care routine, it is actually the initial sign of gingivitis. Establishing an effective brushing, flossing, and mouth rinse routine can reverse the beginning stages of periodontal disease with no need for further treatment. If a patient does not continuously maintain their oral health by actively taking precautionary steps with their at-home dental hygiene, the patient may experience relapse.
When gum disease has reached its more severe stages, a patient has an increased risk of heart-related complications arising. The infection which started in your smile can enter the bloodstream and attach to the fatty deposit in the heart’s blood vessels or harden your arteries. These conditions can cause blood clots and lead to a heart attack.
Contact Us!
Our dental team at the office of Lawrence M. Saltzman, DDS, wants to ensure that our patients stay healthy and do all that we can to protect their oral and overall well-being. With our thorough examinations and proactive approach, we keep a patient’s smile at its best to have them feeling their best!
For more information on how to maintain your oral health at-home contact call our Duluth practice!