ALWAYS REMEMBER TO FLOSS HEALTHY GUMS, HEALTHY BODY
Lung Infections People with gum disease have more bacteria in their mouths than people who don’t. Lung and chest infections can occur by simply breathing in droplets of certain bacteria that can travel from the mouth to the lungs. In fact, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses can be tied back to gum disease. This creates a dangerous predicament for those with weakened immune systems since they already struggle fighting dangerous infections. Diabetes In general, people with diabetes are more likely to develop infections than other people. This includes gum disease. In addition, gum disease can raise an individual’s blood sugar, putting people with diabetes at greater risk of further complications. Newer research has also shown that people with gum disease are more likely to develop diabetes.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly one-half of all Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease. This percentage only increases with age as 70% of people over the age of 65 suffer from this ailment. Taking care of your gums is extremely important because new reports come out every year tying gum disease to many illnesses and conditions that can affect other areas of your body. Here are a few: Heart Health Multiple studies have shown an association between gum disease and heart disease. While a direct cause and effect has not been proven, research suggests that gum disease increases the risk of heart disease. Bacteria from the mouth can find their way into the bloodstream and produce protein, which can increase the chance of getting blood clots. Eventually, if blood flow becomes too badly affected, a heart attack could occur.
As more and more information comes out about gum disease and its effects on our bodies, it behooves us to keep our gums healthy and happy by developing one of the easiest and most effective habits: flossing every day. Simply flossing once a day can improve gum health rather quickly. If tenderness, gum recession, or swelling persist, it’s best to visit your dental provider for a checkup. It could save more than your teeth.
Is Charcoal Good for Your Teeth? Spoiler: No! It May Do More Long-Term Harm You might’ve seen people smiling with black teeth — that is, charcoal toothpaste, toothbrushes, powder implants, bridges, crowns, and white fillings. It can even damage your gums!
Unfortunately, that’s what charcoal can do, and there aren’t many supplementary benefits to using charcoal, either. In 2019, the British Dental Journal did a study and found that charcoal provides little to no protection against tooth decay. That’s partially because charcoal does not contain fluoride, which studies show is the most effective protection against tooth decay. In the U.S., most dental health professionals recommend having your teeth professionally whitened at places that use FDA-approved products and procedures. You might think: “Okay, well, charcoal still removes my stains, so I’ll just use it less frequently.” How good is charcoal at removing stains, really? Research found that charcoal cannot remove intrinsic stains (stains below the surface) and can negatively impact your dental restorations, such as veneers, dental
If you want to find a product that’ll keep your teeth white, don’t choose charcoal. Some experts say that finely ground and controlled amounts of activated charcoal can be safe to use in some specifically formulated products. However, most products on the market aren’t ground fine enough to protect your teeth — and you want to keep your enamel for as long as possible, trust us! We hope these tips will help you and your family while shopping for your next toothpaste and whitening products. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give your local dental experts at Comfort Family Dental a call!
(which you apply and rub against your teeth), etc. — all over Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Then, they rinse their mouth, and bam! Their teeth are pearly white. Yes, charcoal might seem like it can remove your stains at first. That’s because charcoal products are highly abrasive against your enamel. But this leads to long-term consequences, such as increasingly sensitive teeth. Imagine being sensitive to biting into anything, at any temperature, and getting yellow stains more easily than most people!
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