The Important Link Between Heart Health and Oral Health

On the 1^st of February, all of the stores bring out heart balloons, heart-shaped flower arrangements, and heart candies. While this often reminds patients of Valentine’s Day, it also works for American Heart Month! Since cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, this serves as a reminder to focus on heart health. With this in mind, keep reading for the link between heart health and oral health!

A Look at the Link Between Heart Health and Oral Health

When you think of “heart health,” you might think of exercising consistently and eating a well-balanced diet. While those are certainly important, maintaining healthy teeth and gums is essential as well. After all, patients with gum disease are 2-3x more likely to have a heart attack or stroke! That’s because the bacteria from the infection can travel to your vital organs via your bloodstream. So, it’s easy to see why focusing on your oral health is so important.

5 Ways You Can Improve Your Oral Health This Month

Simply put, improving your oral health doesn’t have to be complicated. On the contrary, there are a few best practices that can drastically improve yours, including:

• Using the right oral hygiene tools, like a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride
• Brushing for a full two minutes each morning and evening
• Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily
• Limiting your intake of added sugar
• Avoiding smoking, nail-biting, and other unhealthy dental habits

The Role Your Dentist Plays in the Health of Your Heart

As important as an at-home oral hygiene regimen is, it’s ultimately lacking if you don’t visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. These appointments serve several purposes, from screening for oral cancer and catching gum disease in the early stages to preventing plaque buildup. In short, they help ensure that dental problems are caught before they have a chance to negatively impact your overall health while simultaneously preventing others from developing altogether!

Since February is American Heart Month, there’s truly no better time than now to focus on your heart health. Good news: taking a big step toward better overall health is as simple as implementing a solid oral hygiene regimen – and your dentist can help!

About the Practice

With three dedicated, experienced, and highly trained dentists, our top-rated dental office in Rocky Mount is proud to help patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles. Whether you need a checkup because it’s been more than six months since your last one or you want to schedule antibiotic therapy or scaling and root planing to get the infection under control, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments to help. If you’d like to learn more about how to maintain a healthy smile at home or you want to schedule an appointment with our team, visit our website or call (252) 937-7878.