Have you ever heard the phrase, “the mouth is the gateway to the body”? Scientific research shows there is a definite connection between poor oral health, mainly periodontal disease and a number of chronic systematic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer just to name a few.
Periodontal disease (an infection of the gums and bone) is detected by your dentist or hygienist during your yearly exam. This exam comprises a simple periodontal charting exercise in combination with a recent series of x-rays. If you hear numbers that are higher than 3mm, this indicates the absence of the ideal amount of bone that should be supporting your teeth. For example, if you hear 3-2-4, 4-3-5, 5-4-6, often accompanied by the presence of bleeding, you can confirm that you have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases known to mankind.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases to mankind. Research shows not only persons with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease, the severity of periodontal disease directly affects diabetic complications. In fact, if a diabetic patient also has a severe periodontal disease, the following findings are true:
- There is a two-fold risk of end-stage kidney disease and
- A three-fold risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease!
Other oral conditions associated with diabetes include xerostomia (dry mouth) and candida (yeast) infection.
Tips for improving your oral health & your overall health:
- Brush your teeth two to three times a day, floss at least once a day.
- Have yearly exams to detect any form of oral disease, and professional cleaning at least twice a year.
- If you have periodontal disease, you will need your cleanings three to four times a year.
Article by Dr. Annette Warren | Impressions Dental Center