Wheeling Dentist: Does Your Oral Health Put Your Heart at Risk? Dentist Wheeling At our office, our professional Dentist in Wheeling and team not only care about your dental health but we also care about your total wellness. Your oral and heart heart is vital to your overall wellness. Your mouth is a direct passageway to your body’s bloodstream. Most patients do not realize that there is a close connection between the heart and mouth. Extensive research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that heart disease is the number one life threatening disease. Gum and heart disease are both inflammatory diseases. This may explain why heart disease and gum disease can be present at the same time. Gum disease forms when there is from a build up of plaque. The build up of plaque inflames your gum tissue. The build up of plaque creates pockets of harmful bacteria that settles into your gums and can eventually settle into your bloodstream. The bacterium that is associated with gum disease has been discovered in heart arteries. Gum disease is powerful enough to attack and thicken the carotid arteries of your heart. When you are treated for gum disease with your dentist in Wheeling IL, it not only reduces inflammation in your gums but also decreases inflammation throughout your enitre body to lower risk of heart complications. With your Wheeling dentist, the best care is preventive care. You decrease your risk of a heart attack or stroke, when you receive preventive treatment for oral diseases. Avoiding periodontal disease benefits your overall health. Prevent periodontal disease by following these great oral hygiene habits: • Brush your teeth twice daily • Floss daily • Rinse with an anti-bacterial mouthwash • Schedule routine check ups Schedule dental visits twice a year for a professional exam and thorough cleaning. To schedule an appointment with your Wheeling IL dentist, please give us a call at our convenient Wheeling dentist office.