Were you aware that a healthy smile not only benefits your pearly whites, but your heart as well? A healthy mouth means removing oral bacteria which can cause problems in the body, and not just the mouth. Your daily brushing and flossing efforts get rid of bacterial plaque that builds up every time you eat or drink something. Combined with professional dental cleanings where we scrape away, or “scale” hardened plaque and tartar off of your teeth and gum line, rounds your out-at home care perfectly.
This is important because a healthy mouth benefits your overall health and well-being in addition to your teeth and gums. Studies have actually linked professional dental cleanings to a healthy heart. One study found that people who saw their dentist at least once every two years for professional scaling were 24% less likely to have a heart attack. Also, their risk of stroke dropped by 13%. Inflammation plays a big part in that, as both gum disease and heart disease involve inflammation. Inflammation is caused by bacteria in the mouth that is not consistently removed, and chronic inflammation is linked to a hardening of the arteries as well.
The perfect game plan involves daily oral care at home, along with regular professional dental cleanings to reap a healthy smile and a healthier body. So don’t be tempted to skip your regular dental cleanings as they do so much more for you than you may have imagined. To schedule a visit with Dr. Rossana T. Alfonso, please call our Mira Mesa Dental Care team in San Diego, California at 858-457-7747 today!