The mouth, as they say, is a window to your body’s health. Problems there can – and do – contribute to a wide variety of chronic health issues elsewhere in the body.
So is it any wonder that taking care of your teeth and gums can help you save money on medical costs?
Recently, a dental insurance company studied the relationship between medical spending and periodontal care – the treatment of gum disease, which most Americans have to some degree. (Spit blood while you brush or floss? Gum disease is an issue for you.) The results might surprise you:
Periodontal treatment was associated with statistically significant decreases in annual medical costs:
- Patients with diabetes: 40% or $2,840 per year decrease
- Patients with cerebral vascular disease: 41% or $5,681 per year decrease
- Patients with coronary artery disease: 11% or $1,090 per year decrease
- Patients who became pregnant: 74% or $2,433 per year decrease
Hospitalizations decreased, as well – by as much as 39% for individuals with type 2 diabetes and 29% for those with heart disease.
The common denominator of periodontal and systemic conditions? Chronic inflammation. Keep that in check, and you go a long way toward improving both your oral and overall health. You’ll find some great, natural ways of fighting it here and here and here.
To learn about other relationships between your teeth and the other organs, tissues and systems in your body, see our previous post on the meridian system. Then explore further with our online meridian tooth chart.
Image via Flickr