I’d like to preface this blog post by stating I was a Crest Pro-Health user before I did this interview. I also had no idea who Dr. Stork was, and have yet to watch his show. However, I did want to provide good information to my readers, as well as a little eye candy. What can I say, my mother wanted me to go to medical school and there are days I look back and say “why didn’t I?”
The gateway to the body starts with the mouth. I sat down with Travis Stork, MD, host of the hit TV show “The Doctors” at the Shape Magazine Diva Dash in Charlotte, NC, to discuss how Crest Pro-Health can contribute to overall whole body health. My mother is a nurse and has had multiple patients die in her trauma unit due to poor oral health. In fact, when I still lived with her, she’d preach “Your teeth can kill you! You have to take good care of them.” (I could write a book about being the child of someone in the medical field.)
Before the event, Crestsent a bottle of the new Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse. I don’t know about you, but one of my least favorite things about my dental visits is the scraping during the tartar removal process. I have very sensitive teeth and this procedure for me is akin to nails on a chalkboard. (Heinous!) It helps prevent tartar build-up and cavities (the only product of its kind) as well as helps prevent stains and freshens breathe. My next dental appointment is in September, so I’m anxiously awaiting my results. (Gold stars rule!)
Depending on your dental situation, your dentist might recommend you visit more than the twice per year recommended by the American Dental Association. I do, but I grew up without fluoride in the country and my teeth like to crack. (I also like to over share.)
As Dr. Stork and I discussed his role with Crest and their Pr0-Health line, my line of questioning when to his work in the emergency room and what he’s seen in the cases he’s worked. It’s not pretty. An oral infection can land you in the intensive care unit because your mouth, and the blood vessels in it, feed directly into the circulatory system and is the shortest path to the brain and leads directly to the heart. Studies today are showing that preventative dental care can help stave off, or exacerbate, certain health issues, especially heart disease.
The correlation between heart disease and oral health is still being studied; however researchers have reported that the most common strain of bacteria found in the plaque that can cause blood clots that induce heart attacks when they escape into the bloodstream. We don’t know entirely how plaque in the arteries is formed and it’s possible the same plaque on our teeth, which irritates our gum tissue, are related to the ones which cause our arteries to harden and restrict blood-flow. After seeing my step-dad have a massive heart attack ten years ago, and my grandfather die from a stroke, I’m not taking any chances with oral bacteria accumulation traveling via bleeding gums straight to my heart or brain.
The Diva Dash is sponsored by Shape Magazine.
As previously mentioned, I was a Crest Pro-Health user before I went on this interview and one of my big reasons for using it is that it’s triclosan free. In my previous life, I was an environmental writer and am not comfortable with this ingredient in my personal care or cleaning products.
The Crest Pro-Health products I use:
- Crest Pro-Health Sensitive and Enamel Shield Gel Toothpaste— A lot of people don’t like the flavor. It’s a vanilla mint and it doesn’t taste of beets or liver so no complaints here.
- Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse— Prevents tartar build-up and cavities. Remember the no fluoride thing? Yep. I have to have a rigid brushing and flossing routine or it’s cavity central up in my mouth.
- Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse— My husbands preferred rinse.
- Oral-B Glide Pro Health Clinical Protection Floss — I also carry floss in my purse. Vivian in “Pretty Woman” was a smart lady.
Want more information on Crest:
- Crest Pro-Health Website – www.crestprohealth.com
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/Crest
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/crest
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/Crest
About Dr. Travis Stork:
Dr. Travis Stork, Emmy® nominated TV host of The Doctors and board-certified emergency medicine physician, has partnered with Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health to help others understand that a healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy body.
At the SHAPE Diva Dash, a women’s only 5K obstacle and adventure run, Dr. Stork discussed how oral care is connected to overall health, as well as shared additional tips and tricks on how consumers can protect their mouth and stay healthy this summer and all year long.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written in partnership with One2One Network and Crest Pro-Health. I’m a Crest Pro-Health user and avid flosser.
