Many people don’t realize that dental health is tied directly to physical health issues. Over the years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has participated in medical studies to see just how much the two are intertwined. From this, scientists have learned that gum disease prevention is related to decreasing the chances of heart disease, strokes, and related illnesses.

Need Reasons to Quit Smoking? Here’s Some Help

Almost every building in the U.S. has a no smoking policy or is required to ban smoking under the law. Cigarette taxes make the product extremely expensive. Despite these facts, some of the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) may be unsettling to many Americans.

According to the CDC, tobacco use is still a major American activity. Almost 40 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes. They do that despite the fact that 16 million people are sick with an illness caused by smoking. Every year 500,000 Americans die from an illness related to smoking. This fact is even more tragic since smoking-related deaths could be prevented.

Each day, on average, 1,600 American teenagers start smoking. About 4.7 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product. Parents are often unaware that their kids are starting down this dangerous path.

What is the Connection between Smoking and Gum Disease?

If you are a smoker, your body’s immune system is weakened. Tobacco use in any form raises the risk of gum disease. So if your immune system is weakened, you are less able to both fight off gum disease and heal from it.

The bottom line is your risk for gum disease grows the more you smoke. You are twice as likely to deal with gum disease as a nonsmoker. The longer you smoke the higher your risk and as mentioned, you may not respond well to the treatments for gum disease.

man brushing his teeth practicing good dental hygieneHow Can You Prevent Gum Disease?

Whether you are a smoker or not, good daily hygiene is key to overall good oral health. Which is in turn important to your overall health and wellness. The only way to avoid gum disease is with good dental habits, according to the CDC.

It is important to remember that the following tips are beneficial and important for the entire family, aged 6 months to adulthood. You need to brush your teeth twice daily as well as floss your teeth. This helps to remove buildup of plaque. If the plaque becomes tartar, it must be removed by your dentist.

Getting your teeth properly cleaned twice a year will help to prevent gum disease and will reduce your chances of other potentially life-threatening health issues. Remember, good oral health and overall health and wellness are intertwined.

Lastly, if you are a smoker quit smoking now. If you aren’t a smoker, pass along the knowledge that it is a plus for your health to not use any form of tobacco.

Contact Us for an Appointment

Visit the Sky Dental offices in Phoenix, AZ, where we go the extra mile to make sure your oral health is excellent leading to improved mental health. If you are a smoker, we can even offer some options for kicking the habit! Don’t wait. Call today for an appointment.