The Connection Between Gum Disease and Chronic DiseasesGood dental care is not just about your teeth. . .The connection between gum disease and other diseases has become clearer. For many years we believed the worst consequence of gum disease was tooth loss. Now we know that is not always the case.
It's not OK to let gingivitis or gums that bleed go untreated. Why? Because gum disease can be treated and more importantly, gum disease puts you at a higher risk for many chronic diseases.
With this in mind...taking good care of your teeth and gums should have a high priority. Brushing and flossing properly is so important because you do it everyday. Ask your dentist or hygienist for additional tips and
dental care product recommendations.
Here's why you could be at risk:Bacteria in Your Bloodstream
Because diseased gums bleed easily, bacteria (found in dental plaque) is free to get into your bloodstream.
Once in your bloodstream, bacteria can travel anywhere in your body. Anytime your gums bleed, the bacteria in your mouth can get into your bloodstream.
The good news: healthy gums don't bleed. Because your body wants to fight against the bacteria, your arteries could become inflamed or blood clots may form. Making a heart attack or stroke more likely. People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease.
Inhaled BacteriaThe connection between gum disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exists because of inhaled bacteria. It is possible to inhale or "breath-in" the bacteria that live in your mouth.
Bacteria gets into your lungs and can cause lung infections. If you are in good health, your body is most likely able to deal with the stray bacteria that might find their way into your lungs.
Those with COPD are especially vulnerable to inhaled bacteria. Because their lungs are weaker, they are much more likely to develop bacterial respiratory infections like pneumonia. The main cause of COPD is smoking. Gum disease can make it worse.
InflammationGum disease is inflammation of your gums. If you have gum disease you also have a higher than normal amount of C reative protein. C reactive protein is made by your liver in response to inflammation.Inflammation, measured by C reactive protein, is a recently discovered risk factor for heart disease. Some experts believe it is more important than cholesterol levels. C reactive protein is a possible connection between gum disease and heart disease.
Diabetes and Gum DiseaseInflammation from gum disease can raise your blood sugar. Diabetics with high blood sugar are more likely to have complications from their diabetes.The connection between diabetes and gum disease makes it important for diabetics to
prevent gum disease.
Because of inflammation, gum disease speeds-up the progession of pre-diabetes. There is still much to be learned about diabetes cause, treatment and prevention, but research is pointing to the connection between diabetes and gum disease making good dental care a high priority for those at risk.
The Bottom LineThere is still much to be learned, but one thing is sure. Inflammation is not good for our health and gum disease causes chronic inflammation.
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