Consider this: Your mouth is where your digestive system and respiratory system begin. Harmful bacteria in your mouth—between your teeth, along your gums, even on your tongue—could ultimately have an ill effect on the rest of your body, according to experts with organizations like the Mayo Clinic, the Oral Health Foundation, and the American Dental Association.
When you brush and floss, it turns out you’re protecting much more than just your teeth and gums. You’re protecting your heart, your brain, your lungs, and (for pregnant women) your unborn child.
How so? Take gum disease as an example. The Oral Health Foundation explains that bacteria from gum disease can be absorbed into the blood stream. There, it can cause inflammation or blood clots. In the long term, this leads to cardiovascular disease or an infection known as endocarditis, which affects the lining of the heart chamber and valves. If the blood vessels become so inflamed they cannot reach the brain, this can cause a stroke. If the harmful bacteria in your mouth are drawn into your lungs instead of your bloodstream, this can lead to respiratory diseases like pneumonia. Gum disease is also linked to premature birth and low birth weight because these bacteria can heighten the body’s levels of chemicals that induce labor.
This means it’s even more important to maintain the good oral hygiene that dentists recommend—it’s no longer just about cavities.
1. Brush twice a day using a toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association (check the package for the seal of acceptance, which indicates the paste’s effectiveness). 2. Use floss once a day, and opt for an antimicrobial mouth rinse for extra protection. 3. Limit the sugar in your diet. 4. Visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups.
It’s also worth noting that if you’re suffering poor oral health even when you’re doing everything you’re supposed to, it could be a sign that there’s something wrong elsewhere in the body. For example, people with diabetes are at greater risk of gum disease because diabetes reduces the body’s ability to fight infection. Osteoporosis can weaken your teeth and periodontal bones, and digressing oral health is often seen in Alzheimer’s patients. Pay close attention to your teeth and gums—and to the teeth and gums of any loved ones you’re caring for—so you can talk with a doctor about anything that does not seem right.
