{"id":490,"date":"2021-02-03T16:18:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T16:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cranbrookdentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=490"},"modified":"2021-02-21T16:22:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T16:22:28","slug":"february-american-heart-month-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cranbrookdentalcare.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/03\/february-american-heart-month-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Uncover the Connection Between the Heart & Mouth This February"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Did you know that February is American Heart Month? Every time you visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning, you probably regularly hear them rambling about how your oral health impacts different areas of your body, like your cardiovascular system. Without the proper at-home oral hygiene plan in place, it could put your physical health at-risk. The first step to take towards ensuring you\u2019re healthy and happy is learning more about the small ways in which you can protect your smile as well as your heart. Read on to learn about how these two parts of your body are connected and what you can do to keep them both healthy. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unraveling the Connection Between Gum Disease & Oral Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several studies have uncovered a connection between one of the most common oral health problems in the country and heart problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of every two adults in the United States is affected by gum disease<\/a>, which is an oral infection that attacks the gum tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its earliest stages, when someone may experience swollen or bleeding gums when they brush or floss, with the right at-home oral hygiene routine, the condition can be reversed. However, when gum disease is left to progress, resulting in a buildup of harmful oral bacteria that can erode the supporting structures of your smile, the symptoms can only be managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once harmful oral bacteria accumulate, their toxins can spread throughout the body, impacting your cardiovascular system and increasing your risk of coronary heart disease as a result of the swelling that they cause. When the blood vessels are inflamed and become narrower, a blood clot may form, ultimately resulting in a heart attack. People who have gum disease are two to three times more likely to experience these health-altering cardiovascular events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do to Keep Yourself Healthy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that your mouth doesn\u2019t become a breeding ground for these bacteria, and by sticking to these helpful tips, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease:<\/p>\n\n\n\n