Your smile says a lot about who you are as a person—friendly, kind, patient, and understanding. Maybe even more importantly, your smile gives your dentist or doctor insight into your overall health.
Amazingly, the health of your teeth and gums is directly related to nearly every other system in your body. It’s true! Oral health and whole-body health are connected in ways you may have never imagined.
If your eyes are the window to your soul, then your smile is the window to your whole body’s health. It makes perfect sense then: if your oral health isn’t in the best shape, chances are you’re probably experiencing other health problems as well.
Many studies have shown that periodontal disease is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, bacterial pneumonia, premature births, and lower birth weights in babies. When you fail to keep the bacteria in your mouth under control through brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth and gums each day, the bacteria can reach significant levels and contribute to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
People with periodontal diseases, like gingivitis or periodontitis, are nearly three times more likely to suffer from heart disease than those with a healthy mouth. Too much bacteria in your mouth can enter your bloodstream and attach itself to plaque in the blood vessels in your heart, which in turn, can contribute to the formation of blood clots.
Lesions in your mouth may be the signs of vitamin, mineral, or other nutritional deficiencies; pale or bleeding gums can be a sign of diabetes or other blood disorders in your body, and mouth ulcers could be a sign of Crohn’s disease. Bone loss in your lower jaw might even be the very early warning signs of osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease.
Wow! All of that from not taking care of your teeth! Brushing and flossing is something so simple and easy to do, yet so many people struggle to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
So, you know that too much bacteria in your mouth can lead to more serious health problems, but were you aware that the reverse is also true? In some cases, periodontitis is the result of systemic diseases that begin at a young age.
Existing health conditions that cause poor oral health include heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are typically associated with periodontitis. And, when you have a disease like diabetes or HIV/AIDS, it can lower your body’s resistance to infection making oral health problems even worse. It’s a vicious cycle in which poor oral hygiene can make you sick, and being sick can contribute to poor oral hygiene.
Get yourself and your family into a routine. Start early! Teach your children to look forward to brushing and flossing as a way to keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh, morning and night. Explain to your children that one of the best things they can do for themselves is to keep their teeth and gums healthy, and get regular dental checkups.
Lead by example. Show them how much you value a healthy mouth by brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Lifelong habits often begin in childhood, so kids who keep their mouths healthy will hopefully grow into adults who do the same, and therefore, decrease the risk of periodontal diseases from developing later in life when the risk of many other health conditions also arises as we age.
A great way to get your whole family on board with a good oral hygiene routine is with Dr. Ginger’s Coconut Toothpaste and Mouthwash. Dr. Ginger’s products taste great, plus they have the unique benefits of coconut oil to clean and detoxify the environment in your mouth.
Dr. Ginger’s Coconut Toothpaste and Mouthwash are fluoride-free, so they’re safe to use at all ages and the coconut-mint flavor is irresistible!
