Three Reasons Why Visiting the Dentist Benefits Your Health
Visiting the dentist for regular dental checkups is an easy way to improve not only your oral health, but also your overall health. Like your regular physician, your dentist should be a part of your overall wellness regimen. Here are three reasons how the dentist can help you improve your well-being. Preventive dental care is important When you go to your dentist for a routine checkup, they (or a dental hygienist) will clean your teeth. Having your teeth cleaned removes tartar buildup that can only be removed by a dental professional, which prevents tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health issues that can result from excess tartar. In addition to a cleaning, the dentist will look for any oral health issues that require treatment. If dental issues go untreated, they can get worse, more painful, more expensive to treat and even lead to tooth loss. In most cases, the […]
Oral health and heart disease
You might be surprised to learn that the health of your teeth and gums can affect the rest of your body and vice versa. Such a connection has long been speculated between oral health and heart disease. While research in this area is ongoing, studies suggests a link between the health of our mouths and the health of our hearts. A review published in the Journal of Periodontology found that gum disease is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and that people with gum disease and fewer teeth have a higher risk of stroke.1 Another study reported by the American Heart Association found that people with healthier gums respond better to blood pressure treatment.2 The link between gum disease and heart disease is largely due to the existence of plaque in both conditions, but it’s hard to say if plaque on teeth causes plaque in arteries or if it’s […]
