The gums prime responsibility is to hold the teeth in place, but they also protect against inflammation. If they don’t do that, you are at risk for health problems like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even low birth weight babies or premature childbirth.
Gum disease may hurt the inside of your mouth, but it also can affect your entire body. The disease can spread into your circulatory system and travel to other parts of your body. Researchers have even reported that gum disease, if untreated, could result in death.
How Gum Disease Can Affect the Rest of Your Body
The cause of infections outside of your mouth from gum disease is because the hostile bacteria in your mouth travel up and down through your bloodstream. The bacteria will group in other areas of your body and continue to populate those areas. The hostile bugs found in your mouth are the same reproducing bacteria that can be found in the arteries of people who have heart disease.
The body fights these bacteria by swelling up. Your gums become swollen because more blood in the area means more white blood cells to fight the bacteria. When flossing your teeth or brushing, if you see blood or it is painful and swollen, it’s a sign you probably have an infection the body is responding to.
You combat this by practicing correct oral health habits. Brush your teeth twice per day for two minutes. Floss one time each day. Use a mouthwash at the end that has fluoride. Make this a daily routine that you follow. It will slowly kill off the bacteria in your mouth. Next, give our office a call and get your teeth professionally deep cleaned.
Don’t forget to ask us about the best cleaning schedule for your teeth. Some situations require cleanings 3-4 months apart until the bacteria are completely gone. You can also inquire from us about if you would benefit by having us add a protective coating and sealant.
