 Even small change can make an impact
Although eating right and exercising are certainly an important part of a healthy lifestyle, there are many more things you can do to stay healthy. Some of them might even seem very small, but they can have a large impact.
One small change you can make is to take your dental care seriously. There are many studies linking healthy teeth and gums to heart health.
I asked my dental hygienist, Kim, about it. I was wondering if it was really a cause-and-effect situation, or more of a coincidence. Was there a link between people who didn't take care of their teeth and a tendency toward heart problems? She confirmed that dental health and heart health have a direct link. Apparently, the infection and inflammation from unhealthy teeth and gums spreads throughout the bloodstream and, over time, can cause heart damage.
The conversation came up because we were talking about the importance of regular flossing. I'm a good brusher and get regular checkups every six months, so things were in pretty good shape, but I was having a hard time working regular flossing into my day. I had always thought it had to be done at bedtime, and I am often just too tired, but that's not the case. It can be done anytime.
I was already in the habit of brushing my teeth in the shower so I found a way to floss at that time as well. I keep a package of floss and a small plastic tub for the used floss in the shower. It works well and over the last six months Kim tells me my gum health has shown measurable improvement!
As I said, it's a small change, but isn't that even more reason to make it?
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