Your oral health matters; it goes hand in hand with your overall health. Poor oral health can affect your overall health. As dentists, we are trained to spot issues before they turn into bigger ones.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease or periodontal disease is precisely what it sounds like. This is a condition that occurs when you don’t take proper care of your teeth or if you have some genetic factors that make you more susceptible to it. Gum disease affects your gums, causing bleeding, irritation and swelling. If left untreated, it can cause you to lose teeth and other issues.
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is a condition that occurs when your heart isn’t healthy. It is more of an umbrella term for several conditions, such as coronary artery disorders, arrhythmias and heart failure. You can recover from some types of heart disease through cardiac therapy; it also involves profound lifestyle changes to diet, exercise and vices.
How are the two related?
You may think that gum disease and heart disease are odd conditions to be related, but they are a severe pair to deal with. Heart disease can be triggered by gum disease. The reason for this is because of bacteria. When you have gum disease, numerous nasty bacteria exist in your mouth and gums.
This causes several issues with your gums, including bleeding. The problem with gum disease is that it can contaminate your bloodstream. When bacteria enter your blood, it affects numerous body parts, such as the heart. The nasty bacteria will attach to the heart valves, causing heart disease.
This causes several issues with your gums, including bleeding. The problem with gum disease is that it can contaminate your bloodstream. When bacteria enter your blood, it affects numerous body parts, such as the heart. The nasty bacteria will attach to the heart valves, causing heart disease.
When you develop heart disease, there are various treatments to get you better. It can involve expensive and risky surgeries, prescription drugs and different therapies. The other risk of gum disease is that the bacteria can cause issues with the blood. If it’s terrible, it can lead to septicemia. This condition occurs when blood is infected and causes numerous issues. The rate of mortality when the body goes septic is almost 50%.
How can I avoid this?
To avoid developing gum and heart disease, it’s best to see your dentist every six months. Regular cleanings will ensure that your teeth and gums stay clean and healthy. We encourage all our patients to visit us regularly for cleanings and check-ups. If you feel something is amiss with your dental health, see us. We can see the signs of issues like gum disease before they worsen. If you want to improve or maintain your overall health, visit the team at Toothcrew Dental!