{"id":463,"date":"2022-01-12T18:37:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T18:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drgeorgetphilipdmd.com\/blog\/?p=463"},"modified":"2022-02-18T18:45:44","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T18:45:44","slug":"heart-health-month-gum-disease-healthy-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drgeorgetphilipdmd.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/12\/heart-health-month-gum-disease-healthy-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"How A Healthy Smile Encourages a Healthy Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Though Valentine\u2019s Day is what\u2019s on most people\u2019s minds during the month of February, it\u2019s not the only heart-related thing to think about! February is also American Heart Health Month, which is a time dedicated to focusing on your cardiovascular health. Things like eating a well-balanced diet, managing stress, and getting plenty of exercise can help keep your heart healthy, but what about your oral care routine? Can that have an impact on your heart? Read on to learn about the link between cardiovascular health and maintaining good oral hygiene<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Periodontal disease, which is more commonly known as gum disease, is an infection of the gums. It\u2019s usually caused by poor oral hygiene and is mostly preventable. Even so, nearly half of American adults over age 30 suffer from some form of gum disease. Gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease, is easy to treat and even reverse. But, if you wait too long to seek treatment from your dentist, gingivitis can progress into a more serious infection called periodontitis. Side effects of this include gum recession, loose teeth, tooth loss, and erosion of the jawbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Gum Disease Can Harm Your Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People who have gum disease also have a higher chance of suffering from other health issues, like heart disease. An article by Harvard Health Publishing stated that people with gum disease up to three times as likely to have a major cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke than those without it. The article also says that acute inflammation, which is the body\u2019s response to sudden damage, helps you heal short term. But if it becomes chronic, this may contribute to health problems like thickening or hardening of the arteries called atherosclerosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prevent Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to lessen your chances of developing heart problems by caring for your smile, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n