Bad Teeth = Bad Health

It seems that having poor oral hygiene causes many more problems than bad breath and cavities.

An article in Good Magazine reports on 14 health problems that stem from not taking care of your teeth. They are:

1. Heart disease (Read more: Understanding Heart Aging and Reversing Heart Disease)
2. Clogged arteries
3. Stroke
4. Tooth loss
5. Respiratory disease
6. Severe gum disease
7. Ludwig's angina (a potentially life-threatening infection of the connective tissue in the floor of the mouth)
8. Endocarditis
9. Brain abscess
10. Mediastinitis (inflammation of the region of the body that contains the heart, lungs, lymph nodes and other important stuff)
11. Osteomyelitis of the jaw (chronic inflammation of the jaw bone)
12. Facial cellulitis
13. Pneumonia
14. Sepsis

Besides all of these problems, not taking care of your teeth just makes you look older. In addition to visiting the dentist regularly and practicing good oral care, there are other things to do to keep your teeth looking and performing their best: 5 Smile-Aging Habits.

For additional information about how flossing can improve your longevity, read: Floss Daily for a Longer Life Expectancy.