The Connection between Oral Health and Heart Health

1. Site: dentistmiami.com Email: drvaldes@dentistmiami.com The Connection between Oral Health and Heart Health Heart diseases are the number one cause of death among men and women in the US. Strokes and heart attacks, it seems, are just continuing to become more frequent. Cardiovascular diseases cause about 610,000 deaths per year, and the number seems to be rising every year.

2. Site: dentistmiami.com Email: drvaldes@dentistmiami.com You might be wondering – what does cardiovascular health have to do with oral health? Well, most of us are unaware that oral health plays a big part in the cardiovascular health of a person. If you have been ignoring your dental health, thinking that it is inconsequential, you could not have been more wrong. Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, and you should do well to keep it healthy as it can lead to complications in other parts of your body, especially in your heart. Heart to Mouth Health According to a 2016 study by the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, people with bad oral health or periodontal disease (gum disease) are at a 28% higher risk of heart attacks and other related diseases. Why is this so? Well, the plaque that forms on your teeth as a result of neglected dental hygiene is actually a form of bacteria. With the introduction of plaque to your mouth, it quickly finds a way to enter your bloodstream, where it deposits fatty plaque in your arteries and veins. This causes a build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries and blood clots in the heart’s blood vessels, resulting in thickened arteries. The blocked arteries are then incapable of allowing normal blood flow, and the oxygen and nutrients that the heart needs are restricted, which ultimately leads to heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

3. Site: dentistmiami.com Email: drvaldes@dentistmiami.com The same happens when you contract periodontitis. This gum disease results in a fatty plaque build-up along the gum line, which leads to the same complication when it reaches the blood vessels. How to Prevent Oral and Heart Diseases While oral issues aren’t the only contributors to cardiovascular diseases, they are a culprit, too, and should be maintained as best as possible. Simply maintaining good oral health can bring down your chances of experiencing a stroke or heart attack substantially, and is definitely something you should be taking into account. Regular dentist visits in Miami for check-ups are the key to maintaining good oral health and hygiene. Make it a habit to visit your Miami dentist every 6 months. This will ensure that any oral issues that you may have been nipped in the bud before they get too serious. Dental care in Miami is easily available, and the dentists at Galloway Dental can guide you when it comes to how you can care for your teeth and gums to prevent the build-up of plaque. If you have a family history ofcardiovascular diseases, then it is even more crucial that you take any measures possible to reduce your chances of following in the same line. Other things you can do to lessen the appearance of plaque are brushing your teeth regularly, flossing regularly, brushing your teeth at the right angle to get to

4. Site: dentistmiami.com Email: drvaldes@dentistmiami.com the corners of your mouth and to not scrub your teeth so hard that it starts receding the gum line and results in gum diseases. If you notice plaque build-up, visit your local dentist in Miami at Galloway Dental Care and get professional help in clearing it up. If you don’t get it checked out and fixed in time, the consequences could be quite grave. For more details, contact us: https://dentistmiami.com/ drvaldes@dentistmiami.com 305.595.1774