How Gum Disease Can Harm Your Heart & How a Straight Smile Can Help

Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is an infection that is often the result of a bad oral hygiene routine. Gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease, can usually be treated and even reversed with good oral hygiene and frequent in-office dental cleanings. But, when the infection progresses into periodontitis, this may lead to a variety of problems, including heart issues. Fortunately, straightening your smile can help. Continue reading to learn how periodontal disease is linked to heart health and what orthodontics can do to prevent it.

How Gum Disease Affects Your Heart

Inflammation is one of the most common signs of gum disease. Though acute inflammation can assist in the healing process, chronic swelling can lead to serious health conditions, including atherosclerosis. This condition causes the veins to harden and become thick, which may result in a stroke or heart attack.

Additionally, even if you don’t develop atherosclerosis, periodontal disease can still harm your heart. This is because it raises your risk of a major cardiovascular event by up to three times.

How Orthodontics Can Help

When you have gaps in your smile or crooked pearly whites, this creates odd spaces that are difficult to clean. These areas are the perfect place for bacteria and food particles to accumulate, therefore raising your risk of oral health issues.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have your smile straightened. Not only will it give you a confidence boost, but it will also get rid of these hard-to-clean areas, therefore making it easier to practice excellent oral hygiene.

3 Other Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

Though brushing twice and flossing once daily are usually enough to prevent gum disease, there are extra oral hygiene steps to take when undergoing orthodontic treatment. You will need to brush your teeth as well as floss after each meal to remove plaque and food particles from your teeth. This will lower your risk of cavities as well as gum disease. A few more ways to prevent gum disease include:

• Don’t use tobacco products – Smoking at least doubles your risk of gum disease. Additionally, it makes it hard for your body to properly heal. Quitting is critical to protecting your smile from gum disease and a variety of other oral health problems.
• Eat a tooth-healthy diet – Cut back on sugar and eat a diet full of fruits, lean meats, dairy, nuts, and fish to strengthen your teeth and gums.
• Stay hydrated – This will prevent dry mouth, which raises your chances of developing gum disease. It will also wash away food particles and bacteria.

About the Practice

The team at Serenity Orthodontics is here to help patients who have crooked beams achieve the smiles of their dreams. They can teach you about how having a more uniform smile can lower your risk of developing oral health problems as well as the best way to care for your smile throughout treatment. If you want to set up an appointment with one of their six offices or to learn more, visit Serenity Orthodontics’ website.