4 Health Risks of Poor Dental Hygiene
by Alan Muir
If you don’t thoroughly brush your teeth on a daily basis, go to the dentist every six months, or floss regularly, you could be building up dangerous bacteria in your mouth that causes serious health risks. Yikes!
Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease (seen with bleeding gums and pain when you brush your teeth), but there are even more harmful health risks associated with neglected dental care.
Cardiovascular Risks
Individuals with gum disease are more likely to have coronary heart disease. While the connection may not be completely understood, researchers say harmful bacteria in the mouth can enter the blood stream and connect to fatty plaque in the blood vessels to cause inflammation and greater clot risks.
Cognitive Function
Some research has shown that poor oral health may be linked to dementia. Dangerous bacteria in the mouth may move to the brain through the bloodstream.
Respiratory Ailments
Gum disease has been associated with respiratory infections, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and pneumonia. Researchers suggest the infection may develop when bacteria in the mouth is inhaled into the lungs. This leads to inflammation in the lungs.
Diabetes
Individuals with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease. Researchers explain that insulin balance can improve oral health, while oral health can also prevent the development and complications associated with diabetes. These two diseases influence each other.
NUTRASCRIPTIVES RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS
CoEnzyme Q10 200 mg (Also available in 100 mg)
References
Kamer AR. Systemic inflammation and disease progression in Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2010 Apr 6;74(14):1157.
Katagiri S, Izumi Y. Calcium metabolism associated with oral diseases. Diabetes and oral disease. Clin Calcium. 2012 Jan;22(1):49-55.
Machuca G, Segura-Egea JJ, Jimenez-Beato G. Clinical indicators of periodontal disease in patients with coronary heart disease: A 10 years longitudinal study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2011 Dec 16.
Sharma N, Shamsuddin H. Association between respiratory disease in hospitalized patients and periodontal disease: a cross-sectional study. J Periodontol. 2011 Aug; 82(8):1155-1160.
