Oral Health’s Connection to Heart Disease, Stroke and More

Strangely, two powerful weapons against heart disease and stroke are a toothbrush and dental floss.  Here’s the connection between oral health and the health of your entire body. [See Update link at bottom.]

LAST NIGHT, my buddy Steve entered my home looking distracted and holding his jaw.  “I just bit off a piece of my tooth”, he exclaimed, as he opened his hand and displayed a tooth particle.

“That’s about a thousand bucks worth of dentistry”, I replied…  “Good thing you have Cadillac health insurance.”  (Yeah, he’s one of my few friends with BOTH a job and great health insurance.)

As Steve went to the bathroom mirror to examine his plight, I remembered my father’s bout with a life-threatening bacteria that put him in the hospital for a week.  It was caused by an abyss under his tooth which over time became a cauldron of bacterial brew that then launched from the tooth into his whole body, becoming a systemic health crisis that completely overwhelms the immune system.

Healthy teeth are more than a matter of a flashy white smile.  Healthy teeth help keep the entire body healthy.

In this article, Why Oral Health Leads to Overall Health, Dr. Glenn D. Braunstein dives into recent research that indicates that a few health issues and diseases can be linked to oral health, or the lack thereof.

Take heart disease and stroke for example.  Two common items in most households are weapons to help defend against these pernicious health issues – the toothbrush and dental floss.

Have plaque on your teeth?
  It could indicate that plaque is in your arteries as well, as well as periodontal disease.

Cavities?  Well, we all know that this indicates a diet rich in sugars.

Dr. Brausnstein’s article is a good look into the connection between overall physical health and the health of one’s mouth, so I encourage you to check it out, especially if you’re not particularly diligent about the condition of your teeth.

[Update: Just read similar article here that connects dental health to premature birth, difficulty of conception, dementia, diabetes and lung health.]

Last Updated on August 2, 2011 by Joe Garma

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Joe Garma
 

I help people live with more vitality and strength. I'm a big believer in sustainability, and am a bit nutty about optimizing my diet, supplements, hormones and exercise. To get exclusive Updates, tips and be on your way to a stronger, more youthful body, join my weekly Newsletter. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 4 comments
Vernell Leider - August 31, 2011

Maintaining a clean mouth and healthy teeth are very important. Why? These are the keys to preventing the spread of harmful germs and bacteria inside your body. That’s why proper brushing and flossing are important.

Vernell Leider

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    Joseph Garma - September 1, 2011

    Yep. Bacteria that get under teeth can become systemic, infecting the whole body.

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    Reply
Dental Consultant - February 1, 2012

Dental health care is very important to prevent tooth decay or any kind of diseases. Eating nutritious foods is very important and also drinking plenty of water.

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six month smiles - April 9, 2012

Healthy diet ,proper treatment, and proper care for healthy smile 

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