The mouth-body connection has gained the attention of the medical community as a whole. It might surprise you to learn that the health of your mouth could be a factor in chronic illnesses.

Don’t Think This is Relevant To You?

According to the Center for Disease Control, “One out of every two American adults aged 30 and over has periodontal disease. In adults 65 and older, prevalence rates increase to 70.1 percent.” We can do a better job taking care of ourselves.

The Mouth-Body Connection

What happens in your mouth does not actually stay in your mouth! Take a look at three ways that the bacterial activity in your mouth affects the rest of your body.

We can swallow or ingest harmful oral bacteria. While we sleep, our bodies go into a cleaning and renewing cycle. During that cycle, our mouths are generally stagnant. Saliva does not circulate, which leads to very high levels of oral bacteria when we wake up.
Passive absorption is a significant factor in the transfer of harmful bacteria into our bloodstream. Our mouths were intended to absorb a great deal of nutrients and foods, it is coated in mucous membranes and has a high concentration of capillaries near the surface.
When tartar builds up on the gum line, the delicate capillaries lose their natural barrier to bacteria entering the bloodstream. This directly results in bacteria being introduced into the body and causing inflammation. The swelling caused by inflammation restricts our cardiovascular flow and promotes and magnifies aging and disease.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

Fortunately for all of us, Periodontic medicine is proving to us that we have far more control over our overall health than we previously realized. Given that those with a severe Periodontal disease are 40% more likely to suffer from chronic diseases, preventing oral disease can make a lasting and significant impact on our lives. Here are a few simple steps you can take between now and your next appointment:

Rinse, swish and spit in the morning to get rid of excess bacteria before eating, drinking or swallowing.
Bush two to three times a day.
Floss every day.
Avoid eating sugary or heavy carbs.
Add lots of veggies to your diet.

If you feel you may be at risk for Periodontal disease or aren’t sure how to tell, please seek our caring, professional treatment in Meridian. It is a diagnosable condition that can be treated by a Meridian family dentist. Millennium Family Dental provides affordable care for the treatment of gum disease. We will gladly help you get the healthy mouth that you deserve, and set you on a path to the better overall health that you need. Contact us today to learn more!