Don’t Ignore Gum Health, Especially if You’re Worried About Your Heart Top of Form
At the Austin, TX dental office of Dr. Broberg, the health of our patients is of paramount importance. But coming in to see us regularly for your check-up doesn’t just protect your smile. Read on to find out how it could help you protect your heart, also.
Gum Disease and the Cardiovascular System
Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is an ongoing infection. Your body continually tries to fight it but if you don’t seek periodontal treatment it’s a losing battle that puts severe stress on your immune system and your major organs. Toxins continually enter the blood stream, the respiratory system, and brew in the mouth, causing havoc with your teeth.
All this stress can lead to inflammation. All this could contribute to heart disease. Heart disease, stroke, risk of diabetes (type 2) or complications with existing diabetes, links with bones, ulcers, with pregnancy complications, and higher risk of certain types of cancer have all been linked to poor gum health. There’s a long list of systemic links to periodontal disease.
Your best approach is to take good care of your oral hygiene and to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and if there is a problem with gum health, your dentist can intervene early. Early intervention with periodontal treatments could reverse gum disease.
It’s also important to note that poor health could increase your chances of periodontal disease regardless of good oral hygiene so again, the best approach is a proactive one with twice yearly check-ups.
