Heart Disease Linked to Gum Disease

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke

Recent medical research has shown that gum disease contributes to the onset of stroke, heart disease, and many other life-threatening illnesses. So you can understand why treating gum disease is absolutely necessary in the fight to retain your overall good health. The American Dental Association has stated that upwards of 8 out of 10 Americans may have periodontal (gum) disease. Percentages this extreme should warrant treating it as a national epidemic. But because tooth loss has long been thought of as merely unpleasant, not immediately life threatening, the severity of the disease has been neglected for far too long. However, things are changing.
The American Academy of Periodontology has stated that "Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." Which means when you develop periodontal disease, the bacteria that infects your teeth and gums can infiltrate your other soft tissues, migrate into your bloodstream, and create havoc in your heart, lungs, and other vital organs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seal Out Tooth Decay

Image
Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but it’s not always easy to clean every nook and cranny of your teeth – especially those back teeth you use to chew (called molars). Molars are rough, uneven and a favorite place for leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria to hide.  Still, there’s another safety net to help keep those teeth clean. It’s called a sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.  In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child's dental health. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children, of which onl...
Read more

Strep Throat and Tonsils: What's the Connection?

Image
If your throat is sore and your tonsils feel swollen, it can be hard to know if you have strep throat or if it's something else. The good news is that your doctor can help your figure out if you're experiencing strep throat. Read on to find out what causes strep throat, its symptoms, and the connection between strep throat and tonsils. What Is Strep Throat? Strep throat is a bacterial infection that makes your throat feel sore and scratchy. It accounts for just a small percentage of sore throats. According to the Mayo Clinic , the specific bacteria that causes strep throat is group A Streptococcus (group A strep). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that the same bacteria can cause scarlet fever and rheumatic fever, especially if untreated. So how can you get strep throat? Group A strep bacteria are highly contagious and can spread through airborne droplets if someone with the infection coughs or sneezes near you or through sharing food or drinks with som...
Read more

Cavity Fillings: What to Expect, Types & Potential Problems

Image
The process of filling cavities is a fairly simple and straightforward one that can be done right at your dentist's office. Filling Cavities: What to Expect You should expect to be at your dentist's office for around an hour. This gives him or her enough time to take x-rays if needed, talk to you about the procedure and complete the dental work. Before filling cavities, your dentist will numb your teeth, gums and surrounding skin to avoid and lessen discomfort during the procedure. Next, he or she will drill out the decay in the tooth and replace it with a filling. This process only takes a few minutes. Once you're done, your mouth will probably remain numb for a few more hours. There aren’t any significant risks associated with filling cavities, but be sure to keep your dentist’s contact information on hand in case you have any questions or complications. The most common use of tooth fillings is to fill a cavity in the tooth. But tooth fillings also can be used to repair d...
Read more