PREVENTING GUM DISEASE IN MARBLE FALLS
You’ve probably heard of the mind-body connection. Basically, it states that your psychological well-being and your physical health are closely linked. So, if you’re prone to stress, for example, you can elevate your blood pressure and increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Well scientists are finally beginning to realize that your oral health plays a role in your physical health, as well (dentist have known this for years).
Check out these oral health headlines:
- Gum Disease Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke (AAP)
- Study Finds a Direct Association between Heart Disease and Periodontal Bacteria (NIDCR)
- Treatment of Gum Disease May Lower Blood Sugar Levels in Type 2 Diabetes (Science Daily)
- First Oral Bacteria Found Linking a Mother and Her Stillborn Baby (Science Daily)
- Presence of Gum Disease May Help Dentists and Physicians Identify Those at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease (Columbia University)
Sounds intense, right? It should. We tell our Burnet and Marble Falls patients that that oral health is a serious matter, and preventing gum disease may be the key to a healthier you in the future. So, what is gum disease anyway? Gum disease is a chronic infection that typically stems from poor oral hygiene (i.e. not flossing, avoiding Horseshoe Bay dental visits, etc.). It’s hard to imagine that an infection ito your oral health can have such a dramatic impact on things like the heart, the lungs, bones, blood-sugar levels, and fetal development, but it does. Here’s how. Bacteria from your gums can affect your body in four ways:
Bacteria from your gums can affect your body in four ways:
1. Circulatory System – bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums and travel to other parts of the body. As it travels, it can cause secondary infections or contribute to diseases already in progress affecting not only our Burnet patients oral health but their overall health as well.
2. Immune System – the body’s inflammatory response to gum disease can trigger other inflammatory diseases (heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure) and cause arteries to swell.
3. Respiratory System – the bacteria from gum disease adheres to saliva droplets that you inhale. You can actually breathe-in the bacteria every time you inhale. This can cause pulmonary infections and respiratory problems in Marble Falls patients.
4. Blood Sugar – gum disease increases blood-sugar levels and makes diabetes harder to control. Still not convinced? Watch this video:
The bottom line? You can eat right, work out every day, and visit your doctor regularly, but if you neglect your oral health, you’re essentially shooting yourself in the foot. Visit our Brady or Marble Falls dentist office regularly and prevent gum disease from sabotaging your efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Together, you and our team in Horseshoe Bay can prevent systemic illnesses from spiraling out of control.
