How deadly is chronic inflammation inside your body?
Answer: VERY!

Virtually all chronic diseases, disabilities, and dysfunctions begin with chronic inflammation in the body. Some doctors have proposed that if you engage in a lifestyle of healthy nutrition, fitness, sleep, and stress management...you might manage to avoid all the chronic disabilities that kill us all prematurely. This includes many forms of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, endocrine disorders/type 2 diabetes, psychological, neurophysiological, mental/emotional, respiratory, and skeletomuscular disorders.

Even if you focus on sports and strength conditioning and performance in your personal training business, you will find defeating chronic inflammation will aid your athletes immeasurably in reaching their genetic potential, regardless of the sport they play.

Inflammation is a normal and healthy protective response to irritants, toxins, and pathogens that enter the body. Inflammation becomes a problem when it is chronic. Chronic inflammation can lead to damaged tissues and organs, and other unhealthy circumstances.

One often overlooked area of inflammation that is neglected by personal trainers and their clients is the mouth, specifically, Gum Health! Gum health should be integrated into the health and nutrition education you teach to every one of your personal training clients!

Besides the fact that good nutrition begins with good digestion, and good digestion begins in the mouth...gum disease is highly inflammatory to your body.

Poor mouth/teeth/gum hygiene can lead to Gingivitis, swollen, sore, and infected gums. This can lead to Periodontitis (gum disease) and weakened structural support for your teeth.

Your mouth is filled with bacteria, some good, some not so good, and some bad if they begin to grow unchecked. Proper oral hygiene keeps the bad bacteria in check, as does healthy nutrition. Too many sugary drinks and junk foods lead to the rapid growth of bad bacteria...the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

Unfortunately, these bacteria can grow rapidly, get absorbed into your bloodstream, or be inhaled into your lungs. These bacteria will then begin to affect systems, tissues, and organs far removed from your mouth. This leads to chronic inflammation that can cause deadly diseases throughout the body, including the coronary arteries.

Many studies have reported that 50% of men over the age of 40 have some stage of Erectile dysfunction (ED). The current causes are believed to be smoking, alcohol/drug abuse, hypertension, and poor cardiovascular function, but gum disease is under increased suspicion as a possible factor. ED is a malfunction in blood vessels, and bacteria from gum disease may very well play a role.

According to the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, Gum disease can:

• Increase your risk of lung, head, and neck cancer.
• Double the risk for cardiovascular diseases.
• Triple the risk for stroke.
• Increase the risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Increase the risk for Kidney and Pancreatic cancer by 62%
• Increase the risk of premature death for diabetic patients with bleeding gums by 400-700%
• Increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, and dementia.
• Increase the risk of diabetes in people with gum disease by 93%
• Pregnant women with gum disease have ONLY a 1-7 chance of having a normal-weight, healthy baby.
• The Surgeon General states that up to 80% of adult Americans may have some stage of gum disease and may not know it.

SO, WHAT IS TO BE DONE????
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

Educate your personal training clients on proper oral hygiene. You can prepare a handout for them with the following critical bullet points:

• Brush after every meal, and/or following sugary drinks/snacks
• Use a good gum disease prevention mouth wash, twice daily.
• At least once/day (I prefer the evening after my last meal), perform as follows:
  • Brush your teeth horizontally, 5 strokes/tooth (yes you can hit a few at a time) using caution not to brush against your gums as this may cause damage. Do not rinse your mouth. Keep the toothpaste in your mouth while you...
  • Floss between each tooth.
  • Use a Water Pic with a solution of about 5% hydrogen peroxide added to your water.
  • Brush again Vertically with a downward stroke AWAY from your gum line (again: guard against gum damage). Rinse. Then...
  • Use your Gum disease prevention mouthwash. Rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward.

Not only will proper oral hygiene prevent many diseases, but it will also help your digestion and improve your performance.

Good Luck and Best of Health to YOU!

_{©January 2022}