Protect Your General Health with Good Dental Hygiene

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that, despite advances in dental care, nearly 20 percent of children have untreated cavities, and as many as 41 percent have decay present in their baby teeth. You’re probably aware that dental hygiene is essential for removing plaque and preventing tooth decay, but you may not know that it can have a dramatic effect on your general health. Recent studies have shown that poor dental hygiene is linked to conditions such as diabetes and inflammation in blood vessels. Heart-Healthy Benefits of Professional Teeth Cleaning American Heart Association researchers recently shared findings demonstrating that good dental hygiene can actually reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. A study that monitored 100,000 people over a seven-year period found that participants who had their teeth professionally cleaned once every two years reduced their risk of heart attack by 24 percent and their risk of stroke by 13 percent. Researchers argued that routine dental care and good oral hygiene reduced the growth of harmful bacteria that cause both periodontal disease and inflammation in blood vessels. The same types of bacteria that cause periodontal disease are also associated with an elevation in C-reactive protein, which is a known marker for blood vessel inflammation. Dental Hygiene Basics To increase your children’s chances of living healthy lives, be sure to make dental hygiene an important part of every day. When first teeth erupt at around six or seven months of age, regular brushing and visits to the dentist should soon follow. Additional ways to protect your children from cavities include limiting sticky foods and starchy snacks, avoiding prolonged consumption of sugary drinks, and not letting them fall asleep with a bottle of juice or milk. As your children age, be sure to make regular appointments with a pediatric dentist and dental hygienist for professional teeth cleaning. To learn about our family dentistry practice in Rockledge, call Rockledge Dental today at (321) 252-0825 or make an appointment. boilerplate