Irvine, Calif.-based Pacific Dental Services is raising awareness about the link between oral and heart health amid American Heart Month, according to a Feb. 9 news release obtained by Becker's.
Six things to know:
1. Increasing research indicates a connection between oral health and heart health.
2. PDS team members participated in the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day on Feb. 4 to help raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women.
3. Patients and PDS team members are encouraged to join the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's 28-days heart challenge, which aims to help people achieve heart health goals.
4. PDS team members are invited to learn CPR on Feb. 14 to be better prepared for emergencies.
5. Team members will create no-sew heart pillows to help patients recovering from open heart surgery. The pillows provide an extra layer of pressure and comfort against painful jolts from coughing, sneezing or moving.
6. PDS-supported practices distributed the latest issue of "Generations of Smiles," an educational magazine that aims to educate on the link between oral health and whole-body health.
"Our goal throughout American Heart Month is to continue educating our patients, team members and communities we serve about the importance of maintaining good oral health." said Stephen Thorne IV, founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. "A healthier smile lowers the risk of heart disease, which in turn creates a healthier heart."