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Have you ever wondered what the link between your oral health and overall health is? Well, now is the time to understand the importance more than ever before. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys gum and bone tissues that support the teeth affects nearly 75 percent if Americans and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. So what is the link? These two different diseases may have more in common than you think. Research is point to facts that managing one disease may greatly reduce the risk for the other. If you are worried about heard disease, you can easily spend thousands of dollars each year trying to prevent it, paying hand over fist for prescription medicines, shelves of healthy cookbooks, fitness machines for your home and a gym membership. A number of recent studies suggest that you may already have the best and easiest weapon against heart attacks, stroke and other heart disease conditions laying right on your bathroom counter. Brushing and flossing to prevent gum disease is a leading prevention of heart disease. Gum Disease and Heart Disease Connection The link between gum disease and heart disease is not a connection that people generally think of. During stages of gum disease, bacteria and toxins from your infected gums may access your bloodstream and travel to your heart. The bacteria from your mouth can enter the bloodstream through your gums. Bacteria that can be found in your teeth have been found clumped in artery plaques. This makes one theory to be that these bacteria stick to the fatty plaques in the bloodstream, directly contributing to blockage. Another possibility is the role of inflammation, which is the body's response to infection, injury or irritants. While inflammation is a protective response of the body, chronic inflammation can cause a number of diseases and serious health problems. Periodontitis is a chronic infection that not only destroys the gum tissues and bone that support the teeth, but it also increases the inflammation level throughout the body. Inflammation is now known to play a crucial role in many chronic diseases that are not usually classified as inflammatory diseases, including heart disease. Periodontal disease can also cause added aggravation to existing heart conditions. The link between gum and heart disease has to do with infective endocarditis, which is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium, due to infection. Bleeding in the mouth creates an opportunity for bacteria to travel into your bloodstream. The bacteria is normally eliminated from the bloodstream promptly by white blood cells, but chronic periodontal disease can be a predisposition for the bacteria to cause serious infection by latching on to the damaged heart tissue. Signs of periodontitis include:
• Bad breath that won't go away
• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Painful chewing
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Receding gums or longer appearing teeth When to Visit your Pompano Beach Dentist It is always important to maintain good dental hygiene habits to prevent gum disease. First signs of gum disease or periodontal disease can be the most important to notice because early intervention is vital. Your dentist is the best choice to help you manage your oral health and to ensure that oral bacteria and pathogens do not infiltrate other areas of your body. Some of the risk factors of periodontal disease include:
• Smoking
• Family history
• Poor oral hygiene habits
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis
If you any of these risk factors for periodontal disease, your dentist can help you to monitor your oral health and also tailor a prevention and treatment plan to help you maintain your overall health. It is vital to keep up with your annual check-ups and dental cleanings, especially if you fall under any of the risk factor categories. Consult your dentist immediately if you are exhibiting any signs of gum disease. The sooner you visit your dentist, the better it will be to eliminate and further prevent any other oral and overall health complications.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Natalia Stadler, leading dentist in Pompano Beach. Providing the best in cosmetic and general dentistry that the Pompano Beach area has to offer, Dr. Stadler is qualified to handle any dental need for patients of every age including whitening, veneers and Invisalign in Pompano Beach.
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