Brushing teeth helps prevent heart disease

By Fayette C. Ri�en

Wednesday 15th of February 2012

CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) -- Never break the habit of regularly brushing your teeth, at the very least twice a day, because such practice actually prevents the development of heart disease.

This is the advice of Dr. Philip Yray of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 during a PIA Kapihan this morning in observance of the Dental Health Awareness Month every February.

“If one does not brush his or her teeth regularly and tooth decay develops, this will lead to tooth abscess if left untreated. Meaning, there is already an infection and the bacteria can go down to your organs like in the heart. This can result to bacterial endocarditis,” Yray said.

Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart called the endocardium. If left untreated, bacterial endocarditis can damage one’s heart valves and can be life-threatening, this is learned.

Dr. Rodivick Docor, past president of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – Cebu Chapter in the same forum said bad oral hygiene practices can also lead to lung and kidney disease because the germs can lodge in these organs aside from the heart.

“The bacteria from the tooth infection can go to your major organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys. The bacteria commonly involved is the streptococci type,” according to Docor.

Docor advised the public to brush their teeth especially before going to bed. “When we sleep, we do not produce saliva which has a cleansing action. And in such case, bacteria can feast orally and starts to gradually damage your teeth without you knowing it until such time that pain develops from tooth decay or infection,” Docor bared.

Docor also advised that it is ideal to visit the dentist every six months or at the very least once a year.

In celebration of the Dental Health Awareness Month, the PDA – Cebu Chapter conducted free dental missions to raise public awareness on good oral hygiene.

“The mouth and teeth are the most neglected parts of the body. It is time that we give importance to them and promote our own health at the same time,” Docor ended. (PIA-Cebu)