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Healthy Dental Habits Reduce Risk of Heart Disease


Not only does good oral hygiene protect your teeth from decaying, it prevents plaque and inflammation from building up in arteries and significantly reduces your risk of heart disease. The exact connection between oral health and heart health has not been pinpointed but medical science has discovered a strong enough connection to promote the practice of healthy dental habits to reduce the risk of heart disease. Start taking care of your teeth and heart with these tips for healthy dental habits.

Brush After Eating


Former oral hygiene recommendations have been to brush teeth twice a day, morning and at bedtime. For optimum dental and heart health brush after eating and morning and bedtime. This will remove food debris, acids and sugar before they have time to damage tooth enamel and gums.

Flossing Removes Bacteria from Under the Gum Line


Some dental experts recommend flossing before brushing to dislodge food particles from between the teeth so they can be brushed away. Other dentists recommend the standard floss after brushing protocol. Either way will remove plaque and bacteria from below the gum line, preventing it from entering the blood stream causing artery inflammation or causing tooth decay or periodontal disease.

Rinse After Flossing


Add one additional step to your daily oral hygiene routine by rinsing after flossing with a bacteria killing mouthwash. Flossing dislodges the bacteria and plaque from under the gum line but does not remove it from the mouth so it is necessary to rinse it away. Use your favorite mouthwash for this oral hygiene step. Rinsing with an anti-bacterial mouthwash after flossing also helps promote healing for irritated gums or mouth lining and to helps prevent food from staining teeth between whitening.

Chew Sugarless Gum


When brushing, flossing and rinsing are not feasible (like in the workplace) chew a piece of sugarless gum after eating. Chewing gum promotes the production of saliva in the mouth which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids before damage is done to tooth enamel, gums and ultimately the heart.

A Healthy Smile for Life


Healthy dental habits will keep your smile and heart healthy for life plus keep you looking younger. Healthy white teeth can take 10 years or more off a person’s appearance.
Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 November 2011 21:52 )