A Healthy Smile Isn’t Just for Your Teeth and Gums

17 Dec A Healthy Smile Isn’t Just for Your Teeth and Gums

Did you know that a healthy smile isn’t just about keeping your teeth and gums in their best shape? Although taking care of your smile results in a healthy mouth, it also seems to benefit the rest of you as well.

People with moderate or advanced gum disease are more likely to have heart disease and stroke than people with healthy gums. Apparently, patients with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease or other problems in the mouth. Not only that, but a bacteria in gum disease (porphyromonas gingivalis) has been found in the brains of some people who also had dementia. There is some thought that it may be easier for this bacteria to make its way to the brains of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Not only that but dementia has been linked to inflammation in the body, including that of poor dental health.

Brushing, Flossing & Dental Cleanings

Studies prove that professional teeth cleanings work together with daily oral care to create a healthy smile, and we all know that preventing tooth decay and gum disease is a daily, ongoing challenge. Daily brushing and flossing effectively removes oral bacteria (along with food particles left behind after eating), creating a healthy foundation for teeth and gums. But if this oral debris is not removed daily, will develop into a sticky film known as “plaque” which hardens into tartar. Once this plaque mineralizes into tartar (or calculus), it will take a professional dental cleaning to remove, using special “scaling” tools designed for this procedure.

We are always happy to work with you to rid your smile of tooth decay and gum disease, especially since taking care of your smile also benefits your overall health and well-being. So make your smile and health a priority today, by giving us a call to schedule a cleaning with our caring dentist, Dr. Desiree T. Palmer. Our dental team in Durham, North Carolina can be reached at 919-471-9106.