June is National Men’s Health Month, and Health Centered Dentistry wants you to know about how your teeth can affect cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death for men in our country. We want all of our patients to have healthy mouths, as well as healthy bodies.
New studies show that it may be possible for bacteria from your mouth to “jailbreak” and travel through your bloodstream, which is definitely not a good thing. Read this post to find out how to protect yourself and the men in your life from this heart attack risk!
Jailbreak Bacteria
When you eat or drink, your mouth becomes populated with the bacteria that cause plaque. This sounds gross, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as you take care of your teeth, brush and floss them every day, the plaque will be regularly cleaned and won’t cause problems.
However, if bacteria accumulate in your mouth they irritate your gums, causing them to bleed. The bacteria then “jailbreak” into your bloodstream, where they can create blood clots. If these clots travel to your heart, they greatly increase your risk of heart attack.
Heart Disease Statistics
Unfortunately, most of us know a friend or family member in Midland, TX who has died of heart disease or a stroke; these conditions account for one out of every three deaths in our country.
Each year, Americans have more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes, and Dr. Bell wants to work with family doctors, to lower these numbers in our area.
Decrease Your Risk of Heart Attack
There are many ways to keep your heart healthy:
- watch what you eat
- check your blood pressure
- monitor your cholesterol
- exercise regularly
- see your doctor every year
We want everyone in Midland, TX to remember the importance of adding oral check-ups to this heart healthy regimen. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, and just pay attention to what your mouth is telling you.
Everyone deserves to live a long, healthy life, and we hope American Heart Month will help you learn more about how Health Centered Dentistry can help you do that!
For more information about heart health, contact Dr. Bell, your Midland, TX Dentist at Health Centered Dentistry today.