MENUYou may know that you should brush your teeth if you’re interested in protecting the health of your teeth, but did you know that brushing and flossing could also help your overall health? If you don’t care for the health of your teeth, plaque and bacteria may enter your bloodstream and cause long-term damage. Even major organs such as your heart, brain, and lungs can be affected by bad bacteria in your mouth.
As you probably know, plaque can lead to gum disease. However, did you know that plaque can also clog your arteries? Similarly, plaque can harden into tartar, which can lead to a number of serious issues. Unfortunately, plaque can also harden inside your arteries, which makes your heart work harder to spread gum through your body–increasing your chances of heart disease.
Unfortunately, bacteria from plaque have also been found in the brain. Some claim that this can actually lead to serious cognitive diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. In fact, it has been noted that gum disease can actually make this cognitive disease worse.
You could also find yourself more susceptible to less serious diseases if you don’t have care for your mouth well. For example, would you be surprised to learn that you’ll be more likely to have the common cold if the bad bacteria from your mouth reach your lungs? If bacteria reach your lungs, you could also be more vulnerable to problems such as pneumonia.
Fortunately, you can prevent a number of issues simply by brushing, flossing, and visiting our dentists, Dr. Bryan and Dr. Davis, once every six months. We’ll be happy to examine your mouth and offer you any advice you need. To learn more, please feel free to contact Northwest Dental Associates at 541-779-3993. We’re eager to hear from you!