South Side Chicago Dentist: Does Your Oral Health Put Your Heart at Risk?
At our office, our Dentist in South Side Chicago and team not only care about your dental health but we also care about your overall wellness. Your overall wellness includes the health of your heart. You may not realize it, but there is a close connection between your heart and mouth.
Extensive research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that heart disease is the number one life threatening disease. Both gum disease and heart disease are inflammatory diseases. This can explain why heart disease and gum disease can occur at the same time.
The cause of periodontal disease (gum) is from a build up of plaque, which inflames your gum tissue. The build up of plaque creates pockets of harmful bacteria that settles into your gums and can eventually settle into your bloodstream. The mouth is a direct passageway to your body’s bloodstream. The same bacterium that causes gum disease has been discovered in heart arteries. Gum disease is powerful enough to attack and thicken the carotid arteries in your heart. When you receive treatment for gum disease from your Dentist in South Side Chicago IL, it not only reduces inflammation in your gums but also reduces inflammation throughout your entire body to lower risk of heart complications.
With your South Side Chicago Dentist, preventive care is the best care.
When you prevent an advanced oral disease, you are also decreasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Avoiding periodontal disease benefits you and your overall health. To do this:
• Brush your teeth twice daily
• Floss daily
• Rinse with an anti-bacterial mouthwash
• Schedule routine check ups
Schedule dental visits twice a year for an exam and a professional cleaning.
To schedule an appointment with your South Side Chicago IL Dentist, please give us a call at our convenient South Side Chicago Dentist office.
