10 health benefits of brushing your teeth

1. Plaque: Okay, admittedly, removing plaque is one of the most well-known health benefits of brushing your teeth. A lot of us grew watching television commercials that constantly told us to get rid of the plaque by brushing. You remember plaque, right? It's that thin layer that builds up on your teeth. But do you know why it's important to rid oneself of plaque? Plaque is made up of germs that live inside your mouth, and when enough plaque builds up it creates acids that eat away at your teeth, your gums and the bones around your mouth.
2. Gingivitis: Gingivitis is the onset of gum disease. Basically, your mouth is cruddy and full of germs and plaque. What comes after gingivitis is full-blown gum disease. Deal with this by brushing regularly.
3. Periodontitis: So you didn't deal with the problem when you had gingivitis. Well, know you've got full-blown periodontitis. Still, it might not be too late, just make sure to see your dentist very, very soon. Periodontitis is a gum disease that slowly breaks down your teeth and the bones around your mouth. It can be quite painful, and tooth loss and tooth abscesses are quite common.
4. Heart disease: More and more studies are suggesting that tooth and mouth disease can lead to diseases of the heart. Apparently the inflammation that builds up in the mouth due to periodontitis and other mouth disease can spread somewhat to other parts of the body, including the heart, which means a higher chance of heart disease.
5. Blood circulation: Related to matters of the heart, a recent study by the UCL Institute of Child Health looked at 120 patients of middle age. Patients were split into two groups for six months. One group brushed their own teeth as normal. The other group had extensive teeth cleaning and other dental work done throughout the six-month period. At the end of the six months, the group with the major dental work had far better circulatory functions in their blood vessels and arteries.
6. Diabetes: Can not brushing your teeth bring about diabetes? Maybe, maybe not. But according to Dr. Damien Walmsley of The School of Dentistry at University of Birmingham, it's possible that poor oral health can lead to several different diseases, including diabetes.
7. Dementia: Yes, dementia. Didn't see this one coming, did you? Researchers from Columbia University in New York City studied a group of more than 2,300 people older than 60 who suffered from periodontitis. The study found that those with serious gum and mouth diseases fared far worse when it came to memory-based tests. The link between brushing one's teeth and dementia isn't clear to scientists yet, but it is known that damage to blood circulation can help lead to dementia. And remember, better blood circulation is one of the things brushing your teeth is good for.
8. Sperm count: Guys, pay attention. Especially if you're interested in having children. A study of men by the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine showed that men with serious gum and mouth disease had a much lower sperm count, sometimes no sperm count whatsover, than men with a healthy dental and mouth history.
9. Bad breath: This is more of a symptom than a disease or health disorder. But bad breath is a common sign of mouth disease. And it can be annoying. So brush those teeth! And if you suffer from constant and/or severe bad breath, you should probably check with a doctor or dentist.
10. Weight loss: Yes, it sounds a little odd, but according to the publisher of Fitness Blog, brushing your teeth can help to lose weight. How? Several ways. First off, toothpaste usually doesn't taste good with anything, so brushing instead of eating can help to curb your trips to the kitchen. Second, brushing actually burns calories. Third, brushing can help you deal with food cravings because by the time you're finished brushing, the craving will most likely be gone.