What Your Oral Health Say About Your Overall Health

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You may have never even imagined that there can be a connection between oral and general health. However, the fact is that oral health does have an impact, and a huge one, on your overall health. If you take good care of your teeth, not only will your smile look beautiful but you will be improving the health of your entire body.

The Link between Oral Health and Overall Health

You perhaps know that there are a lot many bacteria present in your mouth. This is pretty normal and there is nothing to worry about it. If you brush and floss properly every day the bacteria levels will stay under control. However, if you do not take good care then it can spell trouble.

The bacteria present in your mouth will keep on multiplying and combine with sugar (present in the food you eat) to create acids. These acids will attack your teeth resulting in gum disease, cavities, periodontitis, and tooth decay. Such tooth problems can then spread to the other parts of your body.

Let us now get to learn about some problems that bad oral health can pave the way to.

Strokes and Heart Attacks

If you do not floss and brush on a daily basis then plaque is likely to build upon your teeth. You may have never even imagined in the wildest of your dreams but this can increase the chances of a stroke or heart attack.

It is not only cholesterol that blocks arteries. The American Heart Foundation has discovered that the bacteria found in oral plaque may lead to blocked arteries. As plaque moves into the bloodstream it can get stuck in an artery of your heart. This can then cause a stroke or heart attack.

Diabetes

If you already are suffering from diabetes then gum issues can further complicate it. Periodontitis is a gum issue wherein the gums get so inflamed that they begin pulling away from the teeth, resulting in gaps. These gaps can get infected really fast.

For those suffering from diabetes, periodontitis will make it hard for your body to absorb insulin medications properly. Also, if your blood sugar levels always remain high then this will make your oral infections worse, resulting in more inflammation. So, if you are a diabetic remember to take extra care of your dental health.

Endocarditis

When lots of bacteria start building up in your mouth, they attack your gums and teeth and may result in gingivitis. Gingivitis makes your gums bleed. And once this happens, bacteria will enter your bloodstream and can then reach the other parts of your body. If these bacteria reach your heart it can cause a condition known as endocarditis.

Pneumonia

Air moves through your mouth into your lungs. In case there are too many bad bacteria present in your mouth, these bacteria will easily move into your lungs and result in pneumonia or many other types of respiratory issues.

Particularly, the elderly should take very good care of their dental health, as an issue like pneumonia can even be life-threatening in their case.

Can Impact Pregnancy

Pregnant women follow all the advice they are given, avoid some types of food, have prenatal vitamins, and visit doctors on a regular basis. But, one thing that most of them do not know is that bad oral health can have an effect on their pregnancy and also on their unborn child. Not only should a pregnant woman visit her gynecologist on a regular basis but also a dentist.

As the hormones change during pregnancy it can make the existing dental issues worse. You would be alarmed to learn that if you suffer from periodontitis then it increases the chances of premature birth or low birth weight. It is thus very important for you to take the best care of your teeth during pregnancy.

To Conclude –

Now that you understand the connection between your oral and overall health it is crucial to take the best care of your teeth always.

Also remember, just like regular visits to a doctor is important to avoid any health problems, similarly, to prevent dental issues, regular visits to a dentist are a must. Even if you brush and floss regularly and have perfect looking teeth it still will be wise to visit a dentist as even if there is any minor problem it can be detected on time and cured before it grows and creates trouble.

Facts On High Blood Pressure That Will Disturb You!

The facts on high blood pressure are dramatic and startling. And they should act as a big motivation for getting your blood pressure under control effectively and permanently!

Facts on High Blood Pressure

  • In more than 90% of cases the cause of hypertension is not known
  • Nearly 100 million people in the USA suffer from high blood pressure, a startling figure in terms of the total population
  • Processed foods contain very high sodium levels, which is a big contributor to hypertension
  • Your doctor needs to guess and experiment to get you on the “right” medication, as there are side effects involved with many of them which can include permanent organ damage
  • Almost 10 million people worldwide die each year from untreated hypertension
  • Most cases of hypertension can be successfully treated with natural methods

These facts paint a picture of a condition which is not being adequately addressed by many people. Indeed, many people who suffer from the condition do not realize they have a problem until some damage has been done. They have not intervened early enough. It has been referred to as the silent killer because of this! Sometimes people die from it and didn’t even know they had a problem!

Medications are prescribed in too many cases! This is how doctors have been trained to control the problem. And controlling the problem is all that medications can do. They work to control the pressure rather than addressing the root cause.

This is a flawed approach, and it is indicative of the over-reliance of the medical industry on chemicals and prescriptions.

A much better approach is to treat the condition naturally. Imagine startling your doctor at your next visit with normal blood pressure readings without medication. You can do this. It involves only a few simple steps and a commitment to your health!

Diet is a very important aspect. Some foods and additives are bad for you and contribute to the condition. Yet others are beneficial. So all you need to do is educate yourself and adjust your eating plan accordingly. Surely that is worth a try for the sake of your health! Increasing the amount of natural foods and eliminating processed foods goes a long way to achieving this goal.

Even a small amount of excess weight can have a startling impact on your hypertension. Eating right will go a long way to addressing this, and some simple exercise like walking, cycling, or swimming will take care of the rest.

The important facts on high blood pressure are that it can be treated naturally, and educating yourself on a good plan is well worth your time. How much is your life worth to you?