5 Reasons Pretty Teeth Are REALLY Good for Your Health

by Lexi Petronis



photo: Giovanni Giannoni
photo: Giovanni Giannoni

Your eyes may be the windows to your soul, but it's your mouth, ladies, that can impact your health more than you might think! Here's how.

1: Healthy teeth may help you lose weight. Flossing your pearly whites helps keep gingitivitis--inflammation, and irritation of the gums--at bay. Because inflammation in the body can mess with your metabolism, it could lead to possible weight gain. So keep those teeth clean!

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2: Stronger enamel will keep away tooth pain...which means you can eat the hot and cold things you want to eat, without any sensitivity. To keep your enamel strong, eat tooth-boosting foods that contain calcium, which neutralizes mouth acids, and avoid sugary foods and drinks. You might also consider Lumineers, which, unlike veneers, are ultra-thin and fit right over your teeth (without any grinding). So they protect your dental structure and original tooth enamel--while making teeth white and pretty at the same time.

3: Good teeth and gums may help control diabetes. When you're diabetic, your body is more prone to infection. Gum disease appears to be more severe among people who have diabetes, and research even shows that people with gum disease have a harder time controlling blood-sugar levels.

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4: Clean teeth can impact your heart. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart, which occurs when bacteria from another--often your mouth--spread through your bloodstream and attach to any damaged areas in your heart.

5: Tooth loss before the age of 35 may be linked with dementia. Studies have shown that poor dental health may be a contributing factor to developing memory-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's, later in life.

All good reasons to brush up! What is your teeth-care routine like?

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