Reclaim Your Smile – Reclaim Your Health

Healthy dental habits are important for maintaining a pleasing smile, and they are more important than you might think for maintaining a healthy body. In fact, they are critical to achieving Total Body Wellness. Many will agree that healthy lifestyle habits are important, especially so for those who are predisposed to health problems such as heart attack and stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory disease, pregnancy complications, infertility, erectile dysfunction and cancer, among other issues.

As such, waves of health-conscious adults are now setting their sights on organic produce, grass-fed meats, and wild-caught fish. Gym memberships have become standard practice, and healthy individuals steer clear of smoking. They also make flossing, brushing, and visiting their dentist for regular check-ups an integral part of their life because they know that periodontal disease – an infectious bacterial disease that destroys the gums and jawbone – can cause harm to the rest of the body. According to the World Health Organization periodontal disease affects 85% of the adult population and is the number one cause of tooth loss.

Millions of harmful bacteria live in your mouth, and their ability to attach to teeth and gums is the primary cause of periodontal infection. While excellent oral hygiene, good nutrition and professional dental care greatly reduce chances of getting periodontal disease, the disease is highly contagious, so you still might not be in the safe zone. Several factors should be considered that may, in fact, put you at high risk for periodontal disease:

  • Having family members or friends with periodontal disease
  • Inheriting the genetic marker for periodontal disease
  • Diagnosis of other conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, or if you are pregnant or post-menopausal
  • Maintaining a low-quality nutritional intake; a wide range of vegetables are key to keeping your gums healthy
  • If you are experiencing stress, distress or depression

It is important to note that periodontal disease is silent until its middle-to-late stages, so it takes a skilled dental health professional to make a proper diagnosis and provide proper treatment options. Learn how to avoid the symptoms of periodontal disease like smelly breath, loose teeth, bleeding, receding gums, and tooth loss. Most of all, learn how to keep a healthy mouth to avoid the dangers that periodontal disease can wreak on the rest of the body.

Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy smile, and with that comes a healthier body! It’s important to understand periodontal disease and use healthy dental habits to achieve and maintain Total Body Wellness.