It’s not just for that winning smile, flossing your teeth daily can help you live longer. Think twice before skipping brushing twice a day or flossing regularly; swollen bleeding gums could lead to much more than just bad breath and tooth loss. According to new research by the American Dental Association, besides being a silent tooth killer, periodontal diseases (unhealthy gums) can lead to many serious ailments including diabetes and post-menopausal problems for women.

Periodontal disease is a common problem, but if not treated on time, it can lead to serious ailments.

Previous research has given enough evidence to prove the link between oral hygiene and overall health — your mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and disease and infection can enter through the mouth. Oral bacteria found in patients with gum disease can enter their blood stream. From here, the bacteria can travel throughout the body. Researchers are unsure what causes the bacteria to become mobile, but it has been suggested that bacteria can be dislodged and enter the bloodstream during tasks as simple as brushing, flossing or even chewing. These bacterial colonies can cause serious problems such as cancer of the pancreas, diabetes and many other diseases.

Once bacteria reaches the arteries, they can irritate these in the same way that they irritate gum tissue. This could cause arterial plaque to accumulate in the arteries which can cause hardening and affect blood-flow.

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