Thanks to your doctor, you may understand the importance of a healthy diet and exercise in preventing heart disease. However, you may not know that dental health also plays a part in disease prevention.
February is National Gum Disease Awareness Month and American Heart Month. So it seems like a great time to make you aware of the connection between healthy gums and a healthy heart. We’re sharing a video from the British Heart Foundation that illustrates how gum disease can affect your heart.
The bacteria that cause gum disease can get into your bloodstream and travel to the heart. If this happens, your heart becomes inflamed as your body tries to fend off infection. Inflammation can damage your blood vessels, causing or worsening coronary heart disease. These bacteria are also a known cause of endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining that is potentially fatal.
The good news is, you can keep your gums in great shape with daily brushing and flossing and regular exams and cleanings. We recommend visiting us for these important services at least every six months. We even offer a soft tissue management program at our Rancho Cucamonga office to keep your gums free of disease. Ask us about it at your next checkup!
Ready to schedule an exam, cleaning, or other service? Call Jia Y. Lee DDS at 909-989-5598 today.
