subject: Periodontal And Systemic Connection - The Health Of Your Mouth Directly Reflects In Your Overall Hea [print this page] Your mouth plays a vital role in the overall health of your body. Not just by what you put into it, but also how well you take care of it. Three out of every four Americans show signs of periodontal disease or gingivitis with 30% of them showing signs of more severe disease - chronic periodontitis. These can be painful problems on their own, but they can also cause problems in places you might not have considered, like your heart.
Recent studies have indicated that there is a strong relationship between oral health, the health of your teeth and gums, and other diseases including cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, fetal development, diabetes, orthopedic implant failure, kidney disease, Alzheimer's, heart attacks, and more. In fact, the presence of periodontal disease is now considered to be even more predictive of heart attacks than high cholesterol! By protecting your mouth, in return you are protecting the health of your body, as well.
Understanding Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Affecting approximately 80% of our population, periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down.
Some common signs of gum disease include:
*Bleeding gums during brushing, or otherwise
*Sensitive, red or swollen gums
*Bad breath
*Teeth that are loose or appear to have shifted
When gum disease is detected in its earliest stages, it is extremely manageable and reversible. If you are experiencing bleeding while brushing or any other symptoms of gum disease, contact your dentist for further examination.
The Link
One of the main connections between oral health and systemic health is the health of your heart. Chronic gum disease has been shown to lead to the development of heart disease because your mouth is the pathway for damaging organisms to the rest of your body. Studies show that oral health can provide warning signs for heart disease, and it can be identified through a visit to your dentist in Fenton.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), since the mouth is a pathway to the body, if you have chronic gum disease you are at a higher risk for a heart attack. More than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral symptoms. According to the AGD, proper diagnosis and treatment of tooth and gum infections in patients with a history of heart disease have led to a decrease in blood pressure medications and improved overall health.
Protect Your Mouth with Proper Prevention
Prevention is essential in the maintenance of your smile. The best way to prevent gum disease is to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, visiting your dentist for regular checkups and maintaining a proper, nutritious diet.
Regular dental exams are necessary to remove tartar and to detect early signs of gum disease, but your own dental health regimen also plays a major role in preventing the build-up and progression of tartar. Some preventative steps you can take at home to keep your teeth healthy include:
*Brush twice a day
*Floss daily to remove plaque
*Eat a well-balanced diet
*Use a mouth rinse in conjunction with brushing and flossing
*Avoid cigarettes and chewing tobacco
It is in your best interest to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. By understanding the oral systemic connection, and how periodontal disease can cause or contribute to a magnitude of other diseases and conditions throughout the entire body, you can further care for your teeth and gums.
Talk to your dentist in Fenton today for more information on this connection and to set up your next appointment.
