If your gums and teeth are healthy, there’s a good chance your whole body is healthy. Likewise, if they are unhealthy, it can be an inroad to other medical problems in the future.
There are at least 500 different strains of bacteria that can live in the plaque on your teeth. Brushing your teeth helps control those bacteria on the outside of your teeth, but for those areas you can’t easily reach - like between your teeth - you need to take extra measures. Of course, I’m talking about flossing. And about making sure you make the effort to get the backs and insides of your teeth when you brush.
In your mouth, those 500 types of bacteria cause gingivitis, with its symptoms of swollen, red gums that bleed easily. Without proper dental hygiene, the infection can progress into periodontitis, which affects the tissue and bone around the teeth.
Unfortunately, those nasty little beasties don’t stop there. They can migrate to other parts of the body, including the valves of the heart! Gum disease has been found to double a person’s risk of having a fatal heart attack.
Believe it or not, diabetes has been found to be linked to gum disease as well. It raises the sugar in the body and makes controlling blood sugar difficult. One recent study showed effective treatment of periodontal disease reduced the amount of insulin some diabetics needed.
One other health problem that has been linked to poor oral health is a strain on pregnancy. Women with gum disease often give birth to premature, low birth weight babies. In fact, poor oral health increases this risk by seven times!
The bottom line is - take care of those pearly whites and those gums that support them!