Just as any other body part our mouth also has millions of bacteria, a wide majority harmless and much needed. Then some of the harmful bacteria which can grow out of control and cause oral infections, tooth decay and gum disease etc. Generally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep most of these bacteria under control. Many dental procedures, medications, reduced saliva flow can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth or even breach the mouth's normal protective barriers and enter the bloodstream.
All these big issues but its so simple to keep it under control as long as we follow a few of these steps daily....
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and if night brushing is somehow not possible at least gargle before bed. It will clear some amount of leftover stale food from the mouth.
~Dr V
Once in the blood steam these bacteria can have profound effect on the general health such as........
- Endocarditis is a Gum disease and various dental procedures that can cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Along with a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in the body such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis). That is some serious trouble and can casue fatality.
- Cardiovascular disease due to clogged arteries can lead to stroke possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis which is a severe form of gum disease.
- Pregnancy and birth. Gum diseases has also been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Diabetes generally reduces the body's resistance to infection and can put the gums at risk. People who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more frequent and severe infections of the gums and result in increased teeth loss in many people.
- Osteoporosis is a condition which causes bones to become weak and brittle and it may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
- Erectile dysfunction in men is a very real problem with people who have poor oral health.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day and if night brushing is somehow not possible at least gargle before bed. It will clear some amount of leftover stale food from the mouth.
- Replace the toothbrush every three to four months this a very important step and most of us are just not aware of the consequences.
- Floss daily at least once. Always brush after flossing so the small particles are washed away and do not stay in the mouth, I have seen a lot of people just dry floss and that actually may result in bad breath due to plaque being relased while flossing.
- "Gargle with green tea, says Researchers at the University of British Columbia who tested different strategies for eliminating bad breath and found that green tea was most effective at wiping out the germs and the volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) that cause stench mouth."
- Maintain a healthy diet, limit between meal sugary snacks and workout regularly.
- Maintain regular dental checkups and cleanups. Keep an eye for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as any problem arises.
- Men in general should be very vigilant about dental health as I will now touch upon a very important and sensitive issue related to oral health and sexual health. Researchers at China’s Luzhou Medical College noticed that rats with periodontitis had less of the enzyme eNOS, which is involved in achieving an erection. The study supports past research that shows gum disease is more common in guys with ED than men without it.
- "Maybe, maybe not. “Since periodontal disease is considered an inflammatory disorder, it may play a role in the progression of ED,” says Leonard G. Gomella, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at Thomas Jefferson University. More research of human inflammatory issues is needed to better understand any association between periodontal and penile health." Regardless it may be better to pick up the brush proactively then pop in a "blue pill" after the fact!
~Dr V
