the connection between teeth and your heart

Taking care of our teeth is important for our overall health. But did you know that poor dental hygiene can increase your risk of heart disease? In honor of American Heart Month and National Children's Dental Health Month, we sat down with Dr. Kevan O'Neill, board-certified orthodontist at Dayton Children's Hospital, to understand the connection between dental health and heart health.

is there a connection between cardiovascular disease and poor dental health?

Bacteria from the oral cavity can seed onto defective heart valves and blood vessels causing a heart infection called bacterial endocarditis. Keeping the oral cavity clean by brushing two times per day for two minutes each time can help reduce the pathogenic bacteria in the mouth.

children lose their teeth, so is dental health still as important for children as it is for adults?

Establishing good oral hygiene habits is a critical skill learned in childhood that is carried into adulthood. Baby teeth are very important. They hold space while the permanent, or adult teeth erupt. Losing a baby tooth too early due to tooth decay can alter and cause problems with the formation and eruption of the permanent teeth.

what are the best ways to improve dental health and prevent heart disease?

Practice makes perfect. Find a toothbrush you like and a toothpaste flavor you enjoy and brush, brush, brush!

what tips can you share for parents to help encourage good dental hygiene?

Parents must lead by example. Parents must demonstrate and help their children brush. Once they are brushing properly, I recommend parents monitor and time their children while brushing to make sure they reach the full two minutes, two times each day.