Dental Care Tips to Follow for Those with Heart Diseases

Dental Care Tips to Follow for Those with Heart Diseases

Oct 01, 2022

Your oral health offers doctors warning signs for a wide variety of conditions, including that of the heart. Gum disease is related to an enhanced risk of heart diseases. Tooth loss has a link to coronary artery disease. But general dental care is a proven method to prevent heart diseases. It is mainly essential if you have artificial heart valves.

Can Bad Teeth Cause Heart Problems?

Heart diseases and dental health have a strong connection. Poor oral health enhances the risk of infection in the bloodstream. The bacterial infection can spread from the mouth to other body parts. When the bacteria reach the heart, it attaches themselves to the damaged region and lead to inflammation. It affects the heart valves badly.

Bad teeth can also result in an infection of the heart lining known as endocarditis. As per the American Heart Association, oral bacteria also causes other cardiovascular conditions like stroke and atherosclerosis. The bacteria cause the liver to form proteins that lead to inflammation of blood vessels. It may result in heart stroke or heart attack.

Tips

Checkout the tips below for better oral care and a healthy heart:

    1. Brush Teeth Twice a Day

Many of us do not brush our teeth properly. Some of us also skip it for a few days. As per the new study, brushing teeth two times a day for a minimum of two minutes may help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Make sure you brush softly using a soft-bristled brush at a 45-degree angle using side-to-side and short strokes.

    1. Floss Regularly

Proper flossing under the gum lining and between the teeth is crucial for gum health. It eradicates food bits, plaque, and bacterial accumulation from areas your toothbrush cannot reach easily. However, make sure you stay gentle while flossing.

    1. Quit Smoking

Many of us do not know that smoking is one of the main causes of gum diseases. It is bad for the heart and may decline your overall health gradually. Smoking also make gum disease worse. It can even hinder the existing gum disease treatment. Therefore, if you smoke, make attempts to quit it.

    1. Schedule Professional Teeth Cleaning Regularly

Dental checkups and cleanings on a routine basis are vital for everyone, mainly those at a high risk of heart diseases. Typically, dental experts advise dental cleaning two times a year. It will help you control plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth. If you have gum disease, you may require teeth cleaning more often.

    1. Consume a Well-Balanced Diet

Consuming a well-balanced diet can help you minimize the risk of gum diseases. A nutritious diet contains sufficient vitamins and calcium that boost your overall health.

Dental Care After Heart Attack

Speak to the cardiologist about the dental treatments. If any medical emergency occurs during the office visit, ask your dental expert if oxygen and other help are available.

    1. Stroke

If you had a stroke earlier, talk to the dental professional at Wang & Cortes Dental if you are consuming blood thinning drugs. It’s because these medicines can cause excess bleeding during some oral surgery treatments.

Our dentists are experts in Tampa dentistry and may advise artificial saliva if your condition hinders your potential to generate enough saliva. It’s better to give a full list of drugs and the dosages you take for your heart condition.

    1. Hypertension

Few high blood pressure medications can change your taste and make a dry mouth. The use of epinephrine in people with high blood pressure may lead to cardiovascular changes. It includes heart attack, angina, and arrhythmias.

Epinephrine is most commonly found in local anesthesia products and needs to be used with extra care. Therefore, you must ask your dentist if the local anesthesia includes epinephrine.

    1. Angina

Those suffering from chest pain (angina) are treated using calcium channel blockers. If you have unstable chest pain, you should not receive dental, elective, and emergency dental procedures in a dental office in South Tampa or a hospital with cardiac monitoring equipment. You must ask your dental expert if nitroglycerin and oxygen are available for a medical emergency.

By following the above-mentioned tips, you can keep your smile clean, healthy, and dazzling throughout your life.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive dental care in Tampa, and we are accepting patients across the neighborhood including:

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