The Link Between Your Smile and Overall Health

According to a recent study, dental experts have found a correlation between oral health and some serious diseases.

The ADA has noted that only 10% of the US population flosses everyday. Failure to properly floss can lead to swelling and inflamation of the gums which is called gingivitis. About 70 percent of adults have some form of gingivitis.

According to a recent article:

“When there’s chronic gum inflammation, bacteria byproducts start accruing around the roots of the teeth,” Dr. Levine describes. “If the wall of the gum tissue gets too inflamed, it can thin to a point where it’s permeable. There are these micro-cuts in the gum lining, almost like tiny cuts on your finger. With the gum opened, there’s a pathway — a portal of entry for bacteria to get into the bloodstream.”

The current thinking is that when these bacterial byproducts enter the bloodstream, they end up nicking the walls of the arteries. As the immune system dispatches its cellular soldiers to heal the nicks, there’s a cascade of inflammation that eventually leads to clot formations and plaque buildup in the arteries.

“There have been studies showing that the plaque from periodontal disease is the same plaque that builds up on the carotid artery,” says Dr. Levine. “So now you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease, or CVD. And if the plaque gets dislodged, you’re looking at the potential for a stroke.”

Good oral health habits start early! Make sure your kids brush and floss regularly so that they can avoid these serious health problems later in life. Most studies suggest that kids who brush and floss early in life and regularly visit the dentist will carry these good habits into adulthood. If you need any suggestions with how to help you kids with brushing and flossing, check out Teeth 101 on the Growing Smiles website!