Most of us do things that are recommended to keep our bodies healthy. Ranging from lower cholesterol diets and exercising to medications and supplements. Unfortunately, many of us don't know how the health of our mouths can be contributing to many undesirable health conditions. A healthy mouth should be free of bleeding of any sort. Bleeding is a sign of infection, which is free flowing through our entire body. Current evidence based studies report that inflammatory effects from periodontal (gum) disease could cause oral bacterial byproducts to enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make proteins such as CRP that inflame arteries. In addition, these effects may cause blood clots that contribute to clogged arteries leading to heart attacks or strokes. Considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death, while stroke is the third, this isn't something that should be taken lightly.
Diabetes, the sixth leading cause of death, is also something that is complicated by periodontal disease. It is nearly impossible to get an individual's blood sugar controlled if there is infection in the oral cavity. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications.
There are many other serious health issues that have been linked to periodontal disease as well including, pre-term low birth weights and miscarriages, Alzheimer's disease, pancreatic cancer and obesity. All of these conditions are related to the amount of inflammation present in our bodies. Each and every one of us has a different level of health in our mouths, but all of us have the control to achieve the highest level of health.
At woodbridge Smiles we offer the latest technology to help get your mouth as healthy as possible. Please call today (703)-910-4805 if you are not scheduled for your continuing dental care so that we can find a plan that is tailored to your specific needs, and hopefully add years to your life.
