It may seem a little unlikely that caring for your gums will have a significant impact on your general health, but numerous research studies have established a strong link between oral and general health and it seems that looking after your teeth and gums will produce much greater benefits than a healthy, attractive looking smile. Spending just a few minutes each day caring for your mouth could have significant rewards for your general health.
Oral and general health
As dental professionals, we are always eager to hammer home the importance of a healthy mouth, but don’t just take our word for it – Scientists all over the world have produced incredible findings that suggest a connection between oral and general health. Research suggests that poor oral health, most notably gum disease, can increase the risk of a host of potentially very serious systemic illnesses including heart attacks and strokes. Research has also linked gum disease with a heightened risk of dementia, diabetes and complications during labour and pregnancy.
A study conducted in Scotland, which involved more than 11,000 adults, suggested that people who have poor oral hygiene are more likely to develop gum disease and in turn, suffer from cardiac events, while research cited by the American Academy of Periodontology claims people with periodontitis are up to twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease.
How to prevent gum disease
The good news for our patients is that gum disease is largely preventable and following these simple steps will stand you, your gums and the rest of your body in good stead:
- brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time
- floss daily
- see your dentist every six months
- watch out for warning signs such as swollen, sore and bleeding gums
- avoid sugary foods, especially between meals
- avoid smoking
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