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Tooth decay … can pose a threat to your heart
[mis à jour le 10 September 2010 à 10h12]
With poor dental hygiene and lack of treatment, tooth decay can have serious consequences… often posing a danger to our cardiovascular system.
Poor oral hygiene and excessive sugar consumption are a sure recipe for tooth decay. Knowing that this means a trip to the dentist, use of the drill or even an extraction, it is a problem we often – but wrongly – choose to ignore. But time will do nothing to improve matters. After destroying the enamel, tooth decay will go on to attack the dentine, then the root, which is the real gateway into the body for bacteria.
Teeth come into direct contact with our general blood circulation via the root. Germs can stick to the platelets, which are responsible for coagulation. This can create blood clots, leading to a risk of heart problems. The worst case scenario is endocarditis (inflammation of the heart), myocardial infarction (heart attack) or a cardiovascular accident (CVA/stroke).
To avoid this happening, remember to brush your teeth three times a day and make sure you visit your dentist once a year for a check-up. If you get away with just a descaling, it’s all good!
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18 article(s)
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