Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Body and Mouth Connection

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The mouth is the gateway to the body and researchers keep discovering more links between oral health and overall health.

Diabetes and gum disease often go hand in hand. In a catch-22 relationship, patients with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease and diabetic patients who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar.

People with gum disease are also more likely to have heart disease. Researchers believe this is caused by the inflammation from the gum disease wreaking havoc in other parts of the body, including the arteries. 91% of people with heart disease have gum disease.

Treating existing gum disease has been shown to reduce the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Both osteoporosis and severe gum disease cause bone loss and some studies have suggested that women with osteoporosis have gum disease more often than those who do not.

The bacteria from gum disease may make pneumonia and other lung conditions more serious and some studies have even linked obesity to gum disease. It seems that gum disease gets worse much more quickly in the presence of high body fat.

Taking good care of your oral health means more than just a pretty smile - it means a healthier you! Remember to brush and floss every day and visit your dental hygienist regularly. For those with healthy gums a visit every six months should be fine.

If you have a compromised immune system, are diabetic or if you have active gum disease then you will probably need to visit your hygienist more often to keep your gums healthy.

Schedule your next visit by contacting Boca preventative dentist Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell today at 561-394-9000.

Labels: gum disease, oral hygiene

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