My family's dental health is important to me. Unfortunately for me, it is not as important to my little ones. Getting my kids to brush and floss on a daily basis is almost like taking on an obstacle course. I talked to my family's dentist about different methods I could try to encourage them to brush and floss on a regular basis. Some of the tricks worked, some did not. After some experimentation and talking to other parents, I was able to come up with a lot of great tips for helping kids care for their teeth. I started this blog to help other parents get creative when it comes to their kids and dental care.
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A Guide to Creatively Handling a Child's Dental Health
The Bigger Picture: How Gum Disease Affects Your Whole Body
Bella Snyder
When you're sliding floss between your teeth, you likely don't think about how the simple action affects your blood sugar and cardiovascular health. And who could blame you? It doesn't seem like flossing affects your whole body -- but it does. Why? Because if you don't floss enough, you may end up with gum disease, which has shocking health consequences. Listed below are some of the ways gum disease affects your whole body.
Diabetes
You may be surprised to learn that recent studies have linked gum disease to diabetes. And you may think that this simply means that diabetics are more likely to develop gum disease, but -- even worse -- serious cases of gum disease actually seem to have a direct negative effect on blood sugar. Fortunately, the study performed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh showed that treating gum disease may actually help to control blood sugar in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
So if you notice that your gums are dark red and bleed easily (two major signs of gum disease), start flossing more often -- and see a dentist to ensure that you don't have gum disease.
Heart Disease
Diabetes isn't the only cardiovascular disease linked to gum disease; heart disease is linked to periodontal disease, an advanced form of gum disease that causes teeth to fall out.
The infections of periodontal disease cause full-body inflammation. Consequently, individuals with periodontal disease are more likely to suffer fatal heart attacks, a heavy price to pay for not flossing enough.
If you have periodontal disease, your dentist will likely perform a deep-cleaning procedure to treat the underlying infections. This will reduce your odds of losing teeth -- and decrease your likelihood of having a heart attack, too.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's has also been linked to periodontal disease. Patients suffering from early stages of Alzheimer's disease have an increased likelihood of developing periodontal disease, which is expected, as many Alzheimer's sufferers have difficulty taking care of their personal hygiene.
What's more shocking, though, is the fact that inflammation caused by periodontal disease actually increases the rate of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Therefore, if your family has a history of dementia, it's vital to take care of your gums.
From blood sugar control to cognitive decline, gum disease affects your entire body. So take a little time out of each day to floss carefully. For more information, contact Pacific Ave Dental/Allan L. Hablutzel, DDS or a similar location.
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