Your Smile, Your Health
There’s a concept that has proven to be true when it comes to your overall health – your smile is the gateway to the health of the rest of your body. A mouth that is infected with disease conditions such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, TMJ disorders, and decay is proven to increase the risk of complications like:
- Cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack
- Premature labor and low birth weight infants
- Migraines and headaches
- Sleep apnea, snoring, and sleep disordered breathing
- Obesity
- Diabetes
The Pathway Between Your Smile and Your Health
People ask, “How can the health of my smile affect the rest of the body?” It’s actually a very simple, straightforward concept. Active oral infections, like gum disease, allow plaque bacteria from your mouth to pass into your bloodstream, which then can spread throughout your entire body. Elevated plaque levels cause inflammation in the mouth, strain the body’s immune system, and allow bacteria to break loose directly into the bloodstream. These bacteria have been found in the blood vessels of people that suffer strokes, heart attack, and even in the uterus of pregnant women. It also makes it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels. The more severe the oral disease is, the more severe the systemic health condition is proven to be.
Choosing a Healthier Lifestyle
Gaining control over the active bacteria and inflammation in your mouth will have a tremendous effect on gaining control of other health conditions that you may be battling. Eliminating gum disease makes the treatment of other conditions easier, because the immune system is strengthened and there are fewer bacteria in the body. Our patients benefit from a custom-planned oral care strategy that addresses the key needs of their smile and how they relate to improving other health problems.