Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body- Making the Connection
Taking good care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about preventing cavities or bad breath. The mouth is the window into the health of the body. It can show if you are not eating foods that are best for you or signal that you may be at risk for a disease. Diseases that affect the entire body (such as diabetes), may first be noticed because of mouth sores or other oral problems.
The mouth is filled with countless bacteria, some linked to tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease may be connected with diabetes and cardiovascular disease(hear disease and stroke). A link between these systemic (whole body) conditions and periodontal disease does not mean that one condition causes the other, however.
