Hearty Habits #13: Your Teeth and Your Heart

My vacation brain forgot to share Mark’s Hearty Habits yesterday but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a particularly pertinent one to living a hearty life.

Three years ago I had finished what I could with the dentist here in Savannah because I was moving to L.A. He had done quite a bit of excellent work and I was very happy although follow-ups would be required that, unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to do in L.A. before we returned to Savannah a year later.

I am just so “blessed” (lol) to have a mouth that requires constant attention – oh well, I’ve had the same one for years

Anyhoo, after we returned to Savannah we bought a house that would have been perfectly fine but Bonnie (my wonderful Lady) has a designers’ mind, so, we took to re-modeling. Two years later, the beginning of this year, I had a chance to sit down for a moment (again, lol) and I had a toothache. Ah Ha! Time to re-visit the dentist…

After my very first visit, I discovered something that finally pushed me to do something I had been advised to do for years! Let me tell you about periodontal gum disease…

Three years ago there was absolutely nothing on the charts that would have indicated this existed in my mouth. Nothing! In January I had already developed advanced periodontal gum disease. My mouth had no intentions of fooling around, it went for the extreme right out of the box.

Once you’re told that the bacteria that is associated with periodontal gum disease is the same bacteria that causes heart disease – well – let me tell you, you pay attention! (Especially if you’re my age – don’t you dare hehehe).

And now I not only floss twice a day but I use little brushes (very small, cone-shaped) dipped in a non-alcoholic mouth wash and actually “tiny” brush the same as I floss.

Lesson learned – finally.

According to the American Heart Association, people with the following heart conditions must take special precautions with their dental health:

• prosthetic heart valves
• a previous history of endocarditis
• congenital and acquired heart defects

Thanks for the reminder, Mark. Off I go to do some flossing!