9 Health Issues Your Dentist Can Spot
Check out these overall health issues your dentist can help identify just by looking in your mouth…and at your gums.
What Do Your Gums Say About You?
A healthy body starts with your mouth. A healthy mouth starts with healthy gums.
“They are like the foundation of a house: If you have any damage at the base, it starts to impact the entire structure,” says Richard Kao, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology in Cupertino, California.
If left untreated, gum disease can lead to not only oral health problems like gum recession, tooth decay, tooth loss, and eventually bone loss, it can also lead to serious issues with your overall health too.
But don’t take our word for it…
Many studies have identified correlations between poor dental and gum health to other health conditions like heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, prenatal complications, even certain types of cancer. And more.
“Research has shown that periodontal disease is associated with several other diseases. For a long time it was thought that bacteria was the factor that linked periodontal disease to other disease in the body; however, more recent research demonstrates that inflammation may be responsible for the association. Therefore, treating inflammation may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions.” – Perio.org
Take Care of Your Gums & They’ll Take Care of You
The key to keeping your gums in tip-top shape is preventative maintenance, and that comes in the form of:
- Daily brushing – twice a day, for 2 minutes each time.
- Daily flossing.
- Do The Swish daily with alcohol-free mouthwash.
- Seeing your dentist every 6 months.
- Avoiding risk factors like alcohol or tobacco.
- Maintaining a healthy diet.
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