Brush Your Teeth to Save Your Heart
Did you know that untreated bacteria in your mouth can escape into your bloodstream and cause issues in your heart? Big issues too, like increasing your risk of heart disease and heart attack!
This February, Dr. Euse is working with doctors and dentists around the country to celebrate American Heart Month, hoping raise awareness about cardiovascular, or heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Our office wants everyone in Carson City to have both a healthy heart and a healthy mouth.
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 Carson City 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. Euse 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 Carson City 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 Advanced Dentistry by Design can help you do that!