| If you are concerned with your overall | | | | has established a powerful association |
| health, pay close attention to your oral | | | | between the existence of periodontal disease |
| health! Studies have found that there are | | | | and cardiovascular disease. Other studies |
| over 1000 different types of organisms in the | | | | have found correlation between poor oral |
| mouth between our lips and our throat.Dental | | | | hygiene and blood clots leading to heart |
| professionals have long promoted the idea | | | | attacks, emphysema, lung disease, kidney and |
| prevention is the best medicine. The dental | | | | liver problems, and premature birth.In |
| community has successful trained us to accept | | | | addition to regular dental check-ups, your |
| maintenance as part of the overall oral | | | | home oral hygiene program should include |
| health program. Now, medical professionals | | | | tongue cleaning. The bacterial count on your |
| are linking oral health to overall health. | | | | tongue can be drastically reduced (as much as |
| And, prevention and maintenance are key.The | | | | 50% in one day) with effective tongue |
| tongue is a haven for bacteria to breed, | | | | cleaning.The most effective tongue cleaning |
| multiply and attach to teeth and gums. | | | | should be done with a "tongue cleaner" -- |
| Tongue cleaning may be just as important as | | | | specifically designed for cleaning the many |
| hand washing in prevention of common colds, | | | | crevices of the tongue. It is important to |
| flues and even more serious health | | | | remove the bacteria, not just swish it around |
| ailments.Bacteria in the mouth is the first | | | | which is the problem of simply brushing the |
| step to gingivitis and the most common cause | | | | tongue with your toothbrush.Marian Brown has |
| of bad breath (halitosis). Gingivitis | | | | been active in holistic and alternative |
| (curable) leads to the incurable periodontal | | | | health care for over 15 years. She is |
| disease and may lead to even more serious | | | | currently the editor of Holistic Health News. |
| health problems.The US Public Health Service | | | | |