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How Oral Hygiene Can Help Prevent Strokes

Are you aware that your dental health can significantly affect your comprehensive health, including your chance of a stroke?

Upholding excellent dental cleanliness not only provides you with a healthy grin but can also reduce stroke risks. In this blog post, we will delve into the link between dental cleanliness and stroke prevention, along with offering advice on keeping your mouth healthy.

The Link Between Oral Health and Strokes

Research has highlighted a significant relationship between periodontal disease and stroke incidents. Gum disease is recognized as a bacterial infection that impacts the tissues and bones responsible for supporting the teeth. Without proper treatment, it can result in tooth decay and severe health conditions.

The bacteria related to gum disease can enter the bloodstream and make their way to other body parts, including the brain. This could lead to inflammation of and damage to blood vessels, which in turn escalates the probability of strokes.

Flossing: More Than Just Removing Food Particles

Flossing is a crucial aspect of ensuring optimal oral health, not just because it eradicates food debris from your teeth. It also aids in eliminating plaque, a sticky bacterial layer that may result in gum disease.

If plaque isn’t removed, it might solidify into tartar, which only a dentist can eliminate. The accumulation of tartar can instigate gum disease, increasing the probability of strokes.

Moreover, flossing triggers the gums, facilitating blood circulation and sustaining their health. This practice can help stave off gum disease and minimize stroke risks.

The Importance of Regular Dental Check-Ups

Routine dental examinations are vital for preserving optimal oral health and warding off strokes. In these visits, your dentist does more than just clean your teeth and get rid of any plaque or tartar accumulation; they also look for indications of gum disease.

Early detection of gum disease makes it treatable. But neglecting it could result in a progression that may cause serious health problems, strokes being one of them.

Your dentist can also provide personalized oral hygiene recommendations and identify potential stroke risk factors.

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth

In addition to regular dental appointments, there are multiple actions you can take at home to keep your mouth healthy and minimize your stroke risk.

Brushing Twice a Day

Ensuring that you brush your teeth two times a day is crucial for getting rid of plaque and germs from your gums and teeth. Employ a toothbrush with soft bristles along with toothpaste containing fluoride to mildly brush your teeth in a round movement for a span of two minutes.

Don’t neglect to brush your tongue, too, considering that bacteria can accumulate there as well. This practice assists in maintaining your breath and lowering the likelihood of developing gum disease.

Flossing Daily

As previously stated, flossing is key in plaque elimination and prevention of gum disease. Aim to floss a minimum daily, ideally after brushing your teeth.

If conventional flossing poses a challenge to you, you might want to consider using floss picks or a water flosser. What matters is cleaning in between your teeth and along the gum line to get rid of any plaque accumulation.

Using Mouthwash

While mouthwash is beneficial in eliminating bacteria and improving breath odor, it should not be relied upon as an alternative for regular brushing and flossing.

For maximum benefits, look for an alcohol-free mouthwash that contains fluoride.

Eating a Healthy Diet

A balanced diet enhances your general well-being as well as oral health. Minimize intake of sweet and acidic food and beverages, since they can lead to plaque accumulation and dental cavities.

Rather, choose a diet abundant in fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. These food items supply critical nutrients necessary for strong teeth and healthy gums.

Quitting Smoking

Smoking is not only harmful to your lungs, but it can also have a significant impact on your oral health.

It is known that tobacco products can increase the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer in severe cases.

If you smoke, consider quitting to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of strokes.

Other Health Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene helps prevent strokes and has other health benefits. These include:

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

Similarly to gum disease, bacteria from plaque can infiltrate into the bloodstream and journey toward the heart, leading to inflammation and a heightened risk of cardiac diseases.

By maintaining a clean mouth devoid of plaque, your risk for cardiac diseases, among other cardiovascular complications, can be reduced.

Improved Digestive Health

Neglecting dental health can also contribute to digestive troubles. When microbes from your oral cavity infiltrate your digestive tract, they can incite inflammation and upset the equilibrium of beneficial bacteria within your gut.

This can provoke digestive disorders like bloating, constipation, and potentially irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Better Overall Health

The health of your mouth is strongly connected to your general health. Practicing excellent dental hygiene can lower your likelihood of confronting numerous health problems, such as diabetes, infections in the respiratory system, and even dementia.

 

Maintaining the health of your mouth is a crucial part of your overall well-being, and it has strong links to stroke prevention. Proper oral hygiene practices, including daily teeth brushing and flossing and frequent dental check-ups, can lower your chances of developing gum disease and strokes.

Remember, an attractive and healthy smile enhances your appearance and promotes a healthier body. Show some love to your mouth, and your body will express its gratitude.

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Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.

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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.

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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.

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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.

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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.

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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.

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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.

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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.

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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.

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As a dedicated Dental Hygienist at Torbram Dental, Aalisha brings recent knowledge and experience to ensure the best oral health for our patients. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Toronto College of Dental Hygiene and Auxiliaries and has further enriched her education with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. Beyond her professional qualifications, Aalisha has a zest for life that extends beyond the dental chair. She cherishes quality time with family and friends, thrives on outdoor adventures, and has a passion for hiking and water-based activities, especially during the sunny summer days. She is an avid traveler, exploring tropical paradises and historic destinations while immersing herself in diverse cultures and indulging in delicious culinary experiences."

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Supreet was born and raised in Punjab, India and came to Canada in 2016. She graduated from Sheridan College as an Environmental Lab Technician but later decided to change her career to dentistry. She completed her Level I and II Intra-Oral Dental Assisting course from George Brown College and graduated in 2023. In July 2023, Supreet joined the team at Torbram Dental where she enjoys working. In her free time, she loves to read books.

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