Our body is like a clock that has a mechanism that enables it to function the way it does. Notice that as the seconds hand moves around the frame of the clock, the minutes hand moves along. This goes the same with the minutes hand and the hour hand. This clever mechanism shows that one way or another, the different parts of the clock affects each other.
It is the same in our body. Notice how when you try to make your ring finger touch your palm, the pinky moves along with it. Also notice how you can’t keep your eyes open when you sneeze. They move like a machine. There are also some instances, for example, when you have a sore throat, soon after, you’ll have a cold and a fever. This shows that our body is indeed meticulously created. Everything seems to be connected one way or another.
Believe it or not, our mouths and ears are connected as well. A healthy mouth does not only mean healthy teeth, but also healthy hearing.
How is oral health connected to hearing loss?
An ample supply of blood to the cochlea is needed for a healthy hearing. And according to researchers, poor oral health can lead to poor blood circulation. How? A simple bacteria from the mouth may result to a body inflammation, which may cause blood clots.
Having said this, here are a few mouth-healthy tips that will also benefit your hearing.
1. Brush
Hearing loss was said to be associated with dementia. And did you know that those who have poor dental hygiene increase their risk of developing dementia by 30% to 40%? Narrowing of arteries and blood vessels needed for hearing in our body may be caused by dental infections. This further affects the blood flow in our brain and affects how the brain translates the sounds signals into information.
Take action! Brushing is the easiest action you can do to make sure you have healthy teeth. Brushing for about two minutes twice a day removes tartar, bacteria, and also plaque.
2. Floss
Did you know that gum disease is also associated with complications in the heart? 91% of those who have heart disease also have gum disease, and 80% of these people also have hearing loss. See how everything seems to be connected with one another?
Bacteria can travel through our gums. They pass through our bloodstream, then to the heart, and result to clogged up arteries. Inflammation of the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, causes inflammation of our blood vessels. Less blood is then able to travel through our body. When there is low blood supply travelling to the different parts of our body, our blood vessels in the inner ear can be damaged.
Take action! Daily flossing will help reduce and eliminate the bacteria that live in our teeth and gums. It cleans up in those tight and hard to reach places that brush bristles can’t target.
3. Eat healthy
Let’s do some connecting once more. Gum disease is a common dental health complication for those who have diabetes. Diabetic people are twice as more prone to hearing loss.
Mouth complications have been associated to damage and weaken our body’s blood sugar handling capabilities. High blood sugar results with the tiny blood vessels in the inner ear to break.
Take action! Like what most diabetics do, monitor your sugar intake.. Any sort of exercise will also be of great help.
Quick tips
- Regularly change your toothbrush. A used up toothbrush won’t be able to reach places it needs to reach as compared to a new one with bristles that are still in its tip top shape.
- Drink plenty of water because it helps in two ways: washing away food particles and creating saliva.
How our oral health and hearing health affects one another depends within the bacteria in our mouths. Our mouth shelters millions of microbes that may develop and make their way to our bloodstream through our gums. They travel through our circulatory system, affects our blood vessels and arteries, and may cause complications that may result to permanent hearing loss.
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About The Listening Lab
Listening Lab is a home-grown company whose mission is to help our clients restore their hearing to enjoy the life that they desire. Experiencing hearing loss can be detrimental to one’s quality of life. Hence we commit to providing high-quality hearing solutions.
Our hearing solutions include hearing tests and treatment and prescribing hearing aids. Clients may come to get their hearing checked, and we will assess whether hearing aids are required.
If hearing aids are required, clients can choose from a variety of the best hearing aid brands we provide. Each of the products offers unique features that complement daily use and perform well in helping our clients enjoy the life that they desire.
