The Health Implications of Gum Disease
If you’ve seen the toothpaste commercials about gum disease, there’s a good chance you might only think the condition is a risk for problems like bad breath or mild bleeding (gingivitis.)
But actually, advanced gum disease — or periodontitis — goes much, much deeper.
In fact, it can affect your overall health.
Can Oral Biofilm Spread into the Bloodstream?
Yes! Active areas of gum disease allow dental biofilm to spread from the tooth and into the diseased soft tissues detaching from it, deep within pockets under the gums. When this happens, it can travel throughout the cardiovascular system, impacting your immunity and triggering an overall inflammatory response.
Scientific research has shown that the correlation between the severity of gum disease and overall health can have a direct impact on conditions like:
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Infertility (both men and women)
- Premature labour
- Preeclampsia
- Pneumonia
But…eliminating that bacteria from your mouth by treating gum disease can have a positive impact as well, making it easier to manage these health problems and get them under control much quicker.
Instead of spending all of your time on your teeth, be sure to share some of that focus with your gums as well. After all, they’re what help hold your smile in place!
Do I Have Periodontal Disease?
Let our dentists know if you’re experiencing any symptoms of swelling, bleeding gums, receding gumlines, tartar buildup, or bad breath. In most cases, professional cleanings combined with good home care (including daily flossing and modified brushing techniques) can halt disease progression and reverse milder forms of the infection.
Book a checkup at Studfield Dental Group every six months to have a scale and clean, as well as a screening for gum disease. By diagnosing it earlier, we can prevent its most common end result: tooth loss.
Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.