Whole Body Health Risks from Not Flossing Daily

Not many people realize that by not flossing their teeth they may be doing damage to their entire body. There are quite a few health risks that are associated with not flossing daily.

There is no substitute for daily flossing. Brushing alone does not get all the bacteria and germs that may be hiding in your teeth. Some people think that mouthwashes will be able to help and their is no need to floss daily, but mouthwash is no replacement for good daily flossing.

If a person does not floss daily, there are several whole-body health risks that the person may soon face.

Did you know that having a heart attack can be related to not flossing regularly? It may be hard to believe but there is a link between heart attacks and gum disease. When you do not floss everyday, you are more likely to suffer from gum disease since you are leaving the plague and bacteria on your gums. When you floss you are able to remove these things from the gum lines. When you floss on a daily basis, you can significantly lower your chances of suffering a heart attack.

The main point in flossing is to remove the plaque that has built up in between your teeth and your gum lines. When the plaque builds up and is not removed, it turns to tartar, which is even harder to remove and can only be removed by a dentist. Tartar produces an acid that leads to inflammation of the gums otherwise known as gingivitis. If left untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease not just affect the mouth and teeth. It can cause bone loss of the teeth but can also affect the throat and ear as well.

There are also health risks for pregnant women who suffer from periodontal disease. Women who have periodontal disease are more likely to have babies who are premature and underweight. Research shows that this disease can trigger increased levels of fluids that cause a woman to go into labor. Since periodontal disease is an infection it poses a health risk to the unborn baby. The bacteria that causes gum disease has been shown to cross the placenta, which is why the unborn baby is at risk for a low birth rate as well as being still born. This is all from a simple problem that could have been solved by daily flossing.

Not flossing on a daily basis causes health risks for more than just a person's mouth. It can increase the chances of a heart attack as well damage a person's mouth, throat and ear. Worst of all it can cause death or premature birth in unborn babies who mother's suffer from periodontal disease from lack of flossing.