Dentist in Accra Helps to Protect Heart Health with Oral Hygiene

Proper oral hygiene is vital to protecting the health of your teeth and gums. With correct brushing and flossing habits, combined with preventive care from your dentist in Accra, your teeth can last a lifetime. While you know that oral hygiene is important for reducing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease, you may not know that it is also important to your overall health. In fact, poor dental hygiene can negatively impact your body in several ways, such as raising your risk for heart disease. At Bethel Dental, we want you to be as healthy as possible by caring for your teeth.

Importance of Dental Hygiene

Your home oral hygiene habits and preventive care from your dentist are critical to protecting your teeth from damage. Our mouths naturally contain bacteria. If you do not properly care for your teeth, plaque and tartar begin to buildup. Bacteria thrive on the accumulations, increasing your risk for gum disease (periodontal disease). It is estimated, more than half of adults have a form of the condition. Although many tend to believe gum disease only impacts your dental health, it also causes serious complications to your overall health, especially your heart.

Heart Health and Oral Hygiene

It is estimated that those with periodontal disease are twice as likely to develop heart disease when compared to those who have healthy gums. This is due to the bacteria found in gum disease entering the bloodstream when chewing. As the bacteria circulates throughout the body, it causes inflammation and swelling as the body naturally responds to the infection. This causes arterial plaque to form. With oral bacteria found in the fatty deposits, it causes the arteries to narrow while the deposits break loose and clog the arteries. This significantly increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

While heart disease is one of the main complications to develop from gum disease, it is not the only one that can occur. The bacteria can also cause diabetic issues, respiratory infections, and even raise your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Not to mention, the devastation it will cause to your quality of life as your oral health will become compromised. As the condition progresses, tooth loss in likely, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies from having to avoid certain foods.

Protect Your Mouth and Heart

To protect your heart and body from the complications of gum disease, it starts with good oral hygiene. You need to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each session using a fluoride toothpaste. Floss your teeth each night to remove plaque and tartar accumulations your toothbrush cannot reach. In addition, visit your dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and checkup. In between appointments, eat a well-balanced diet to keep the teeth and gums healthy.

At Bethel Dental, we will help promote your oral health in Accra with complete dental care. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you reach the healthiest, happiest version of yourself.