All the news that fit to print about better living through dentistry
Did you know that a healthy mouth means a healthy body... A healthy heart... Even a healthy sex life? It’s true! And just by changing certain habits related to oral hygiene you can improve the health of your mouth and teeth and lessen your risk for a whole host of illnesses.
“You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot,” says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a former clinical instructor at the Boston University Dental School.
He’s absolutely right.
Researchers at the ADA have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of periodontal disease that can cause tooth loss) is linked with health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries.
Gingivitis (oral inflammation due to bacteria) may also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Love Life
There’s nothing like bad breath to turn off the opposite sex. 22-year-old UK superstar Joss Stone famously remarked, “There's nothing worse than bad breath. I've snogged people with bad breath who smelt of (cigarettes) and beer and it made me feel sick.
Joss isn’t alone. A report from a US mouthwash company revealed that nearly three quarters of the people polled said they wouldn’t let a person they found attractive kiss them if they had bad breath.