Mantaining a Healthy Heart for National Health Month Often Begins with Oral Care
February is both National Heart Month and National Dental Month, and surprisingly, these two health practices have a lot in common.
While many people are familiar with traditional heart-saving practices such as eating healthy and exercising, lesser-known are the benefits that superior oral care provides to one’s cardiovascular health.
ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Kevin Boehm, DDS explains how gum disease affects heart health and what can be done to stay healthy.
· If heart disease runs in the family, a diagnosis of gum disease increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, but an improved oral care regimen and healthy diet can lower the risk.
· A consistent brushing and flossing routine will significantly lower the number of anaerobic bacteria present in the mouth. Brushing 2-3 times daily with an electronic toothbrush and thoroughly flossing once a day are practices recommended by Dr. Boehm.
· A diet high in organic foods, fruits, vegetables, small amounts of lean protein and low in processed foods provides the body with anti-oxidants to fight off both gum and heart disease.
· When gum disease bacterium are released into the bloodstream and reach the heart, heart disease can result. There is an abundance of gum-disease causing bacteria in an unhealthy mouth. Disease-fighting white blood cells increase openings in cell walls when released to fight the bacterium. These openings make it possible for toxic bacteria to be released into the bloodstream.
· It is never too late to change dental habits, and such changes do a great deal to limit the risk of disease and repair past damage.
