Your Jacksonville dentist Dr. Tiffany Shields is committed to your overall wellness, and that includes one of your most important organs: the heart! And heart health may be more closely linked to dental health than you may realize. It all starts with plaque.

Arterial plaque, also known as clogged arteries, develops from a fatty buildup called plaque in the inner walls of the arteries of the heart. Bacteria that form at the gumline and on the teeth may enter the blood stream during chewing, during brushing, or during a dental cleaning. Published clinical studies have found that plaque in the heart arteries can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cleaning plaque from the mouth, then, is imperative to your heart’s proper functioning.

If you’re concerned about your dental health and your heart, contact the office of Dr. Tiffany Shields today for your next plaque-clearing dental cleaning.