You may know that you should brush your teeth if you’re interested in protecting the health of your teeth, but did you know that brushing and flossing could also help your overall health? If you don’t care for the health of your teeth, plaque and bacteria may enter your bloodstream and cause long-term damage. Even major organs such as your heart, brain, and lungs can be affected by bad bacteria in your mouth.
As you probably know, plaque can lead to gum disease. However, did you know that plaque can also clog your arteries? Similarly, plaque can harden into tartar, which can lead to a number of serious issues. Unfortunately, plaque can also harden inside your arteries, which makes your heart work harder to spread gum through your body–increasing your chances of heart disease.
Unfortunately, bacteria from plaque have also been found in the brain. Some claim that this can actually lead to serious cognitive diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. In fact, it has been noted that gum disease can actually make this cognitive disease worse.
Finally, upper respiratory problems, such as pneumonia and the common cold, are much more common in individuals with lackluster oral health. Many dentists believe that this issue is a result of this bad bacteria entering the lungs simply from breathing.
If you’re interested in learning more about how your mouth and your health are connected, please feel free to contact Kirkwood Dental at 408-378-8500. Similarly, if you’re interested in learning more about how you can keep your mouth healthy and strong, or if you’re interested in setting up an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Vinh T. Pham, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll be happy ao answer any questions you may have.