Can Flossing Prevent a Heart Attack?
Do I have your attention?
Good!
Trust me, this is a not a “boy who cried wolf” type of a post. This post is about a topic regarding benefits you will notice every morning when you first look in the mirror. Though the less-noticeable collateral benefits may be absolutely staggering.
Let’s find out if the simple act of “flossing” can save your life.
Flossing?
I’m not talking about “flossing”: the freshest hip-hop street dance since the Roger Rabbit which swept school grounds by storm in 2014.
Check out the www.yahoo.com link on the bottom for the fascinating story of this young influencer.
I’m talking about “flossing”; the act of daily plaque removal between one’s teeth, thereby promoting healthy gums.
I don’t enjoy going to the dentist any more than you do. Therefore, I do my best to follow a healthy oral healthcare routine as possible to keep my visits short and sweet.
I pride myself in being a bit of a teacher’s pet when it comes to visiting the dentist. Call it commitment, diligence, or just plain genetic luck. My hard work typically pays off, but I often leave a routine visit with my dentist reminding me: “don’t’ forget to floss”.
“Death creeps in through the gums.”
-Sarah Silverman
https://www.glamour.com/story/sarah-silverman-funny-advice-for-being-a-woman
Don’t ask me how I came across this quote from Sarah Silverman because I really don’t recall. Sometimes a quote is so catchy though and this one has absolutely stuck with me.
I’m especially reminded of this quote as I cross the threshold from my dentist’s office following each semi-annual cleaning. I felt strongly enough about it to write this blog post.
I decided to dig in a little further to really understand how death truly creeps in through the gums and research to find out if oral healthcare can save one’s life?
Try Googling:
“flossing can save your life”
This is what I found:
Benefits of flossing
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), Dental floss (or dental tape) and other interdental cleaners (e.g., small brushes, special wooden or plastic picks, sticks or water flossers) removes food trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria that forms there before it has a chance to harden into plaque
Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces.
Plaque that is not removed can harden into tartar, a hard mineral deposit that forms on teeth and can only be removed through professional cleaning by a dental professional.
When this happens, brushing and cleaning between teeth becomes more difficult, and gum tissue can become swollen or may bleed. This condition is called gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.
Enough About It Summary
The simple act of routinely flossing removes bacteria, which can turn into plaque, which can harden into tartar, which can cause one’s gums to swell and bleed as a sign of the gum disease gingivitis.
Coronary Heart Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic at www.mayoclinic.org, Coronary artery disease is a common heart condition. The major blood vessels that supply the heart (coronary arteries) struggle to send enough blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Cholesterol deposits (plaques) in the heart arteries and inflammation are usually the cause of coronary artery disease
Signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease occur when the heart doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. If you have coronary artery disease, reduced blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath. A complete blockage of blood flow can cause a heart attack.
So Can Flossing Actually Prevent Coronary Artery Disease?
Npr.org wrote a story titled “Flossing Is Good For The Gums, But Doesn't Help The Heart” where they shared the following:
An expert panel of dentists and cardiologist, writing in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, says there is no evidence that treating or preventing gum disease has any direct effect on heart health.
After reviewing dozens of studies published over the last 20 years, the panel concluded that gum disease and heart disease do occur together - but despite conventional wisdom, one does not cause the other.
Peter Lockhart, chair of oral medicine at the Carolinas Medical Center shared in an interview with npr.org; it's much more likely that gum and heart disease simply share many of the same risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, and stress. Like smoke and heat, the two conditions often go together.
People who focus on those common risk factors, Lockhart says, "will have a very measurable positive impact on their overall cardiovascular disease."
I See Now!
Essentially, having healthy habits (like routine oral health care) may lead to living a longer healthier life! Turns out that regular healthy habits make a big impact over time.
Check out this nugget below:
New research published by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that adults in the US who follow 5 healthy lifestyle habits may live more than a decade longer compared with people who follow none of the 5 habits.
These 5 habits are:
-Eating a healthy diet
-Getting Regular Exercise
-Not Smoking
-Staying at a healthy weight
-Limiting alcohol
While flossing regularly on its own may not prevent a heart attack; it will put a smile on your Cardiologists face that your Dentist will admire.
I hope this post inspires you to evaluate your own health care regimen. You only get one body, so treat it well. This blog shed light on information which may not exactly “save your life” but may just lead you to living a healthier one.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613
https://www.glamour.com/story/sarah-silverman-funny-advice-for-being-a-woman
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/5-healthy-habits-may-help-you-live-more-than-10-years-longer.html