Did you know that your mouth and gums can act as a window into your overall health?
Being oral care mindful, many don’t know that a healthy mouth goes far beyond maintaining a pretty smile. Besides keeping your teeth in good health, your gums, oral bones and muscles, glands and nerves all are essential to your overall well being 1.
Your mouth is home to thousands of types of bacteria, mostly all good bacteria. This harmless bacteria can typically be controlled with proper dental care and your body’s own defenses such as saliva. (In fact by achieving a better pH balance your body’s saliva production is enhanced naturally with calcium and phosphorus).
However, when oral health is neglected, bad bacteria can start to flourish and form bio-film, leading to a multitude of infections or diseases. Additionally, when you don’t take care of your mouth, plaque, a sticky combination of bacteria and food, can build up over time, leading to inflammation. Studies have shown that the growth of oral bacteria and inflammation can lead to certain diseases 2.
When your mouth begins to show signs of inflammation and infection, it can serve as an early detector for other medical concerns. For example, lesions in the mouth may be the first indication of HIV and may be used to determine the staging and progression of AIDS1. However, the biggest indicator of other health concerns is periodontal or gum disease. Periodontal disease mainly results from infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth 3.
Studies have linked periodontal disease as an early warning sign of diabetes and certain types of cancer. It also has been connected to heart disease and stroke 4. A national study in Canada, found that those between the ages of 36 and 69 with severe gum disease had three to seven times the risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Similarly, a university study found that those with cavities and gum disease suffered strokes twice as often as those with good oral health 5.
So now that you know how your oral and overall health connect, you may be wondering how to ensure you keep your mouth healthy!
Just taking part in general oral health practices goes a long way. The physical act of brushing your teeth provides most of the cleaning for your mouth. Your toothbrush removes leftover food particles and still cleans your teeth even if you brush with water alone. However, toothpaste is what helps keep the bacteria in your mouth under control. Choosing an effective toothpaste is essential to maintaining a balanced oral ecosystem 6.
Many conventional toothpastes on the market contain synthetic chemical ingredients that get absorbed into the body through your gums. While these will keep your mouth clean, the toxins entering your body can affect your nervous and hormonal system. Triclosan, for example, is an antimicrobial agent commonly found in household products and in conventional personal products. This agent has been declared as an endocrine disruptor meaning, it affects the balance of our endocrine system, specifically our thyroid hormones 7.
Fluoride-free natural toothpaste offers a toxin free and healthier alternative for your mouth. When taking care of your body, you may buy organic foods to maintain a clean gut. The same goes for your mouth! The all natural solutions in natural toothpaste contain natural antibacterial ingredients such as spearmint and peppermint oils. These help to eliminate bacteria and keep your mouth healthy.
ORL toothpaste specifically focuses on balancing a perfect 7.0 pH in your mouth. By keeping a perfect pH balance in your mouth, it helps remineralize your teeth, leading to less decay. It also helps eliminate the bad bacteria that can begin to prosper in your mouth. Besides bad breath, keeping this bacteria at bay can help prevent the inflammation and infection that can eventually lead to periodontal disease and other health issues.
Also by using a natural toothpaste, such as ORL, you are filling your mouth and body with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and plant-based essential oils. Our proprietary natural formula includes Vitamin C to strengthen gums and guard against gingivitis, Phosphorus and Iron help to remineralize teeth and strengthen the jawbone, and Potassium improves bone mineral density, plus Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K and more are needed to make ORL satisfy your oral needs.
The organic plant-based essential oils (distillations of plants, flowers, seeds, roots and trees) are used for their antibacterial, antifungal, and biofilm-inhibiting properties. Tea tree oil, coconut oil, and peppermint oil are shown to be as effective as fluoride in inhibiting plaque, particularly when you achieve a perfect 7.0 pH balance.
Your oral health is essential to your overall health and well-being. It not only acts as an indicator of other health issues, it also affects your self image and quality of life. By prioritizing your oral health through routine dental hygiene and healthy choices such as natural toothpaste and mouthwash, you can maintain a healthy oral ecosystem that will keep you smiling!
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219661/
- https://www.drugwatch.com/health/oral-health/
- https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html
- https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Oral-Health
- https://odha.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Overall-Health-14-1-final.pdf
- https://www.greendentalsmiles.net/family-dentist/is-organic-toothpaste-better-than-regular-toothpaste/
- https://druidebio.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-use-organic-certified-natural-toothpaste
