A healthy life starts with a healthy mouth. If your teeth and gums aren’t in good condition, that can lead to serious consequences in other parts of your body. Brushing and flossing aren’t just beneficial for good oral health, they can also help ward off sickness and disease in all of your important functioning systems. Without proper mouth care, you can begin to develop gum disease, tooth decay, and gingivitis, all of which are driven by germs that can spread to your heart, lungs, and circulatory network, resulting in poor health.
Breeding Bacteria
Each time you brush your teeth, you’re eliminating harmful bacteria and microbes that promote gum disease and infection. That’s why it’s so important to stick to a routine of brushing three times a day. But when you don’t brush your teeth, you’re allowing all the bacteria to build up and overpower your mouth. That will result in the development of periodontis, which is an advanced form of gum disease. Ever notice how your breath smells bad when you don’t brush? That’s bacteria you smell and letting it fester can get pretty nasty. Not just for anyone unlucky enough to catch a whiff of your breath, but for your own well-being as well.
Signs of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is caused by plaque that has built up from a mixture of bacteria, pieces of food, and mucus that resides in the area where the gum and the tooth meet. If it sits there long enough, you can begin to feel pain, your gums bleed, and you’ll notice your gum is red and swollen. Those are all signs of an infection and if left unchecked, your teeth can start to decay and even come loose.
The Mouth-Body Connection
All of that bacteria that’s made your mouth infected can then travel to other parts of your body that are vulnerable to infection. The heart is one place in particular that can become infected with these germs rather easily and you could develop endocarditis and atherosclerosis, both of which are common but troubling forms of cardiovascular illness. You could experience a hardening of the arteries or the interior lining of the heart can become infected. All because you allowed those microbes to build up and spread into your bloodstream.
Respiratory infections like pneumonia can also occur as well as immunodeficiency diseases, along with diabetes, and osteoporosis. None of these are much fun, so the next time you think about brushing your teeth, give a thought to all the good you’re doing your body and your mouth at the same time.