DOLCE LIFESTYLE: Practice Proper Dental Health for Proper Heart Health
by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD
We’ve all seen the commercials for plaque-fighting toothpastes. We’ve also heard our dentists harp on us to floss daily in order to prevent plaque build-up on our teeth. So we know that plaque build-up can lead to gum disease (periodontal disease), which is severe swelling of the gums often leading to infection, and once the gum is gone, it’s gone for good.
Ok, big whoop? Why is the Dolce Dietitian discussing dental drama with me?
More and more studies by the American Heart Association are recognizing a link between oral plaque build-up and plaque build-up in the arteries of the heart (atherosclerosis). Dr. Ann Bolger, a medical doctor and professor at UCSF stated that “People with periodontitis often have risk factors that not only put their mouth at risk, but their heart and blood vessels, too. But whether one causes the other has not actually been shown.”
Although testing is still preliminary, it is still a good idea to practice proper oral hygiene if researchers have found even a trace of evidence that could possibly link the two. Research isn’t quite there yet, but why not get a head start?
Can you imagine being diagnosed with heart disease with the cause being “too lazy to brush and floss his/her teeth”?
This is kind of a no-brainer in my book. You are basically killing two birds with one stone here. Will brushing and flossing prevent heart disease completely? More than likely not, but why not take measures to at least slow down that progression or at least lessen the symptoms and risk factors?
Source
