At Dental Health and Wellness Boston, we are focused on providing patients the best information and advice to maintain not only oral health but whole body wellness. We’ve found that while some people know that keeping your mouth and teeth clean can positively impact your health, many are unaware of the unrelated health issues that can actually also be affected by the state of your teeth and gums! Untreated gingivitis, tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth infections and missing teeth are among the many dental problems that can contribute to illness and may shorten your life or the quality of your life.
The following is a list of statistics and correlations recently published by Gary Kadi, a strong advocate for the dentists’ role as healthcare providers, that link poor dental health with medical issues throughout the body. Though many of these areas need further medical analysis and review, it is clear the list of reasons to take care of your teeth and gums is growing, and the effects of oral health extends much further than your smile!
- Gum disease increases the risk of head and neck cancer (American Academy for Oral Systemic Health).
- Tooth loss and gum disease increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Mayo Clinic).
- Bacteria in your mouth can travel to other parts of your body in your bloodstream and can cause heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke (American Academy for Oral Systemic Health).
- Gum disease increases pancreatic and kidney cancer risk by 62% (Harvard).
- Diabetes and bleeding gums increases your risk of premature death by 400 – 700 percent (American Academy for Oral Systemic Health).
- 93% of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes (AAOSH).
- Pregnant women with gum disease have only a 1 in 7 chance of giving birth to a healthy child of normal size (AAOSH).
- Research has found an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis (American Academy of Family Physicians).
- People who have gum disease are twice as likely to die from heart disease and three times as likely to die from stroke (Mayo Clinic).
The Dental Health and Wellness Boston team is your first line of defense to prevent dental problems including gum disease. By catching and treating the earliest signs of plaque build-up and gingivitis with Adult Prophylaxis, aka professional teeth cleaning in our Boston practice, and conducting comprehensive dental exams, we can help combat potential related health issues, from cardiac problems to diabetes and more. If you have a family member, co-worker or friend who has not seen a dentist for a long time, please share this information with them and encourage them to call 617-742-1220 today to begin a healthier life.