Importance of Brushing Teeth in Preventing Meningitis
Brushing your teeth and visiting Dr. Afar, Los Angeles dentist, at least twice a year for a comprehensive checkup and professional cleaning is essential to enjoying a healthy smile for life. Maintaining good dental health has also been linked to heart health according to numerous studies. New research has also linked good dental hygiene to one more benefit: a reduced risk of bacterial meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis, which can be quite severe and has been associated with hearing loss, brain damage and other serious lifelong complications, can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums, according to researchers in Zurich. This bacterium has been discovered in patients with meningitis, endocarditis and inflammation of the spine. The study, which was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, revealed that these oral bacteria are also linked to blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Good oral hygiene can help control and reduce the number of bacteria present in the mouth. It can also reduce the risk of gum disease, which causes inflamed, bleeding gums. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once a day. Visit our dental clinic twice a year for a professional cleaning. If you notice your gums are bleeding when you brush or floss or if they appear puffy, red or discolored, Dr. Afar, Los Angeles periodontal treatments specialist, will perform a comprehensive evaluation and create a customized treatment plan to restore gum health and reduce your risk of complications.