Taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums is a worthwhile goal in and of itself, but did you know that our bodies benefit in many ways when we are conscientious about good oral health practices? Your mouth is a window into what is going on with the rest of your body. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases, including heart disease, have oral signs and symptoms. If you needed another reason to take good care of your mouth, teeth and gums, the connection between your oral health and your overall health provides a plethora of motivations. Taking care of your teeth and gums is like making an investment in your overall health, not just for now, but for the future as well.

A healthy mouth may help you ward off medical disorders. An unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase your risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes and preterm labor.

What Does Good Oral Health Have to do With Your Overall Health?

Bacteria from your mouth typically don’t enter your bloodstream. However, gum disease can provide a port of entry for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

If you have a healthy immune system, the presence of oral bacteria in your bloodstream doesn’t cause problems. Your immune system quickly eliminates them, preventing infection. However, if your immune system is weakened, because of disease, oral bacteria in your bloodstream may cause you to develop an infection or inflammation in another part of your body. Research suggests that there may be an association between gum infections, poorly controlled diabetes, cardiovascular disease and preterm birth among other conditions.

Ways Your Body Benefits from Good Oral Hygiene

Better Gum Health

Your mouth contains a variety of bacteria. Some of the good bacteria helps you digest food; others are potentially harmful bacteria that can cause illness and infection. Brushing and flossing reduce the harmful bacteria in your mouth and help remove the food particles that feed the harmful bacteria. If you don’t brush and floss properly, harmful bacteria can build up in your mouth. When this happens, plaque can build up on your teeth. Excess plaque can cause inflammation in your gums which leads to gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis causing painful gum swelling, bleeding, loose teeth, and tooth loss.

Lower the Risk of Heart Attack

When gum disease is present, bacteria from your mouth can enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. If it travels to your heart, it could contribute to your risk of heart attack. According to the American College of Cardiology gum disease can increase your risk for a heart attack by nearly 50 percent.

Healthier Pregnancy

Taking care of your oral health not only helps you, but it can help your baby, too. Some studies have found a connection between gum disease and serious pregnancy complications; birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and low birthweight when the baby weighs less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Babies are more likely to thrive when they are full term and at a healthy weight.

Less Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops when your blood sugar is too high because your body can’t manufacture enough insulin or use it properly. People with gum disease are up to 50 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those with healthy gums. What’s the connection? Inflammation caused by gum disease can make it harder for your body to use insulin properly, causing insulin resistance.

Lower the Risk of Cancer

Having gum disease can contribute to certain kinds of cancer, especially pancreatic cancer. Although researchers don’t fully understand the connection, it may be that substances from bacteria in the mouth help boost the growth of cancer cells. There may be links to other kinds of cancer, too.

Healthier Lungs

When you have gum disease and infection caused by bacteria in your mouth, you may inhale that bacteria into your lungs. This can cause respiratory infections such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, which is among the leading causes of death in the United States.

Good Oral Hygiene Starts with Good Home Care and Seeing Your Dentist Twice a Year

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes
• Flossing your teeth at least once a day (preferably at bedtime)
• Drinking water between meals to rinse out your mouth between brushing
• A key factor to good oral health includes regular dental check-ups with Dr. Shane S. Porter of Premier Dentistry of Eagle every six months. Your check-up will include a thorough cleaning of your teeth, gums and mouth.

What are some of the symptoms of gum disease?  If you suspect that you have gum disease, please make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Porter. The sooner you treat gum disease, the better. The early stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning, followed by daily brushing and flossing.  Call Premier Family Dentistry at (208) 546-0655, or click to contact our office.

Located at 467 South Rivershore Lane in Eagle, Idaho, Dr. Porter treats patients of all ages in the communities of Eagle, Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Star and Garden Valley. Let him help you get your oral health on track and heading in the right direction. Your overall health will thank you in the years to come.