Gum disease is unfortunately an incredibly common oral health problem, with around 50% of Americans having it to some extent. What’s worse is that the average person also doesn’t know much about what gum disease entails, or even that they’re suffering from it.
It may be a good idea for most people to learn a bit more about gum disease. With that in mind, here are a few facts that you may not know about this condition, and that may be useful for you to know.
Gum Disease and Diabetes
It can be easy to think about your mouth as being separate from the rest of the body, but oral illnesses can potentially interact with your overall health in complex ways. Diabetes is an interesting example.
One of the side-effects of gum disease is that it spikes the blood sugar in the body, which naturally puts you at risk for developing diabetes. Even if you don’t necessarily have a familial risk of developing the condition, gum disease may make it a possibility for you.
Gum Disease is Degenerative
One way in which the mouth is unlike other places in the body is that your immune system isn’t very good at dealing with oral illness. You might think that gum disease could go away over time, like a cold or the flu, but the fact is that the opposite is true.
Even mild gum disease will get worse if nothing is done to treat it, which means that you need to be proactive about treating periodontal infection so that it doesn’t get more severe.
Gum Disease and Heart Health
Interestingly, recent research has found that gum disease can contribute to all kinds of health conditions, notably heart disease. While it may be surprising, even the American Heart Association has acknowledged the link between the two conditions.
While the cause isn’t known for certain, it’s theorized that bacteria in the mouth can seep under the gum line and enter the bloodstream. When this happens, these bacteria can form plaque deposits that clog up arteries, just the same as the plaque deposits in your mouth.
About Our Practice
Welcome to Columbia Healthy Smiles! No matter who you are or what brings you to our practice, we can guarantee that we’ll give you a smile that you can be proud of. We believe that patient education is just as important as fillings and cleanings, so we ensure that you’ll leave our office not only healthier, but more informed about how best to take care of your teeth.
If you have any questions about gum disease, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (573) 875-7071.