{"id":390,"date":"2024-02-08T11:56:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T11:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schaffelddental.com\/blog\/?p=390"},"modified":"2024-03-04T23:57:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T23:57:55","slug":"how-a-healthy-smile-can-strengthen-your-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schaffelddental.com\/blog\/how-a-healthy-smile-can-strengthen-your-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"A Healthy Heart Starts with a Healthy Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Since it\u2019s February, you\u2019ve likely been thinking of Valentine\u2019s Day. Perhaps you\u2019ve even prepared a gift for your sweetheart. Still, don\u2019t just focus on your emotional heart right now. The truth is that February is American Heart Month \u2013 a time to value physical heart health and its role in good living<\/a>. So, consider helping that special organ in your chest. Your Enterprise dentist will even assist you. Here\u2019s a primer on how a healthy smile can strengthen your heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How the Mouth & Heart Relate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if they seem unrelated, your mouth and heart actively impact each other. The health of the former can strongly affect the health of the latter. In other words, how well your mouth is doing will partly determine if your heart is strong or weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, harmful mouth bacteria don\u2019t just stay in your oral cavity. These microbes can easily travel through your bloodstream and reach your heart. Should that happen, they might attach to heart valves and cause inflammation. You\u2019d then suffer cardiovascular issues \u2013 strokes, clogged arteries, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gum Disease Leads to Heart Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One example of the mouth-heart connection is how gum disease raises your risk of heart disease. As your gum infection worsens or goes undiagnosed, the more danger your heart will face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the bacteria from gum disease reaches your heart, it won\u2019t prove harmless. The microbes will likely elevate C-reactive proteins. These proteins act as a guide for inflammation in blood vessels, so boosting them leads to a higher chance of heart disease. In fact, such a rise may double or even triple your risk of heart attacks or another cardiovascular problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Heart-Healthy Oral Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the facts above, you can take steps to prevent gum-related heart issues. Just make sure to use the following tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n