Is the Health of Your Body Connected to the Health of Your Teeth and Gums?

We all love a beautiful smile but do we give much consideration to The health of that smile? Do we give much thought to maintaining healthy teeth and gum's? If not, we should be doing exactly that.

Did you know four out of five Americans have some form of gum disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Did you know that gum inflammation from gingivitis , a mild gum disease, will lead to serious gum disease if it isn't treated. Gum disease, also referred to periodontal disease, has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Periodontal means "around the tooth." Periodontal diseases, also called gum diseases, are bacterial infections that destroy the gum's and the surrounding tissues of the mouth. If left untreated, the disease will cause the underlying bones around the teeth to dissolve, and the teeth will fall out.

Some signs of gum disease are decaying teeth, sore swollen gum's, and bad breath, bleeding when brushing or flossing, receding gum's, pus between teeth and gum's and loose teeth. This all a result of bacterial infection.

"When you're looking at people who have gum disease, they are suffering from a chronic low-grade infection," says Jean Connor, a dental hygienist in Cambridge, Mass., and president-elect of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. "Your whole body is a little bit compromised."

Bacteria in your gum's, if left untreated, can travel throughout your entire body causing Inflammation which has been linked to many disease processes.

There have been several studies that suggest gingivitis is connected to heart disease and stroke, because of the increased levels of bacteria found in the infected mouth traveling to the cardiac system. Remember, all systems of our bodies are connected to each other and have an effect on each other. As the level of periodontal disease increases, the risk of cardiovascular disease may increase with it.

Diabetics often have gum disease possibly caused by high blood glucose, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Diabetics need to take extra care to maintain their oral health. Regular check-ups and cleanings definitely are needed.

If you suspect that you may have gum disease see your dentist as soon as possible. If you want to prevent gum disease, proper brushing and flossing are the best line of defense. of course, you will have to see your dentist or dental hygienist on a regular basis to have plaque build up removed.

For more information on this topic contact the American Dental Association at http://www.ada.org/

Source;
*National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/

*Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/

*American Dental Association at www.ada.org/

*American Dental Hygienists' Association. http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/index.html