Dental Hygiene and Your Overall Health

Did you know that even if you brush your teeth once or twice a day, your oral health may still be at risk? In fact, your mouth harbors dangerous bacteria that not only increase your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease, but they can also raise your risk to many other health conditions. Read on to learn five ways insufficient oral hygiene can hurt you.

1. Gum disease can hurt your cardiovascular health. Those who have gum disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those who donít have gum disease. While the exact mechanism is unknown, researchers theorize that bacteria from infected gums enter the bloodstream and attaches to plaque in the blood vessels.
2. Gum disease can damage your brain. Dementia and Alzheimerís have been linked to poor oral health. One study found that elderly individuals with the greatest tooth loss were the most likely to suffer dementia.
3. Gum disease might make you more susceptible to diabetes. Research reveals that gum disease can make it harder to control blood sugar, and diabetics with gum disease may find it harder to control the periodontal damage, thanks to dry mouth and slow healing.
4. Gum disease may increase your risk of respiratory infections. If you aspirate, or breathe, the bacteria associated with gum disease into your lungs, you are more likely to develop such serious conditions as COPD and pneumonia.
5. Gum disease can affect your fertility. Women who have gum disease may have a more difficult time conceiving, are more likely to miscarry, are more likely to have a preterm birth and are more likely to have a low birth-weight baby.

You should be able to remove plaque effectively on a daily basis by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes at a time and flossing once a day. Every six months, visit our dentist in Los Angeles for a dental cleaning and checkup to ensure your teeth are healthy.