Suffering from Chronic Inflammation? It Could Be Caused by Periodontal Disease
If you suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer or arthritis, chances are, you’re not thinking about going to the dentist for treatment. More and more evidence is showing, however, that maybe you should.
For more than 20 years, researchers have been studying the correlation between overall oral systemic health and systemic diseases. According to the American Dental Association, periodontitis (gum disease) can wreak havoc not only on your gums and teeth, but your entire body, altering your immune system and causing stroke, as well as a variety of diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s.
How?
In periodontal disease, oral bacteria attack the gum tissues around the teeth. In an effort to curtail this invasion, your body does what it’s supposed to do – attempts to protect itself by eliminating the infection – leading to a protective inflammatory response.
The problem is that the inflammation doesn’t necessarily just hang around your gum tissue – it can spread, manifesting into a multitude of inflammatory diseases throughout the body.
This new knowledge continues to change the dental paradigm, with dental professionals now concentrating on a patient’s overall health and wellness. Dentists are becoming “first responders” when it comes to identifying possible inflammatory diseases.
The good news is you can help prevent periodontal disease, possibly reducing your risk of developing other inflammatory diseases. By brushing your teeth and tongue twice a day for two-minutes or more, you remove the plaque that can cause high-risk oral bacteria growth.
But don’t stop there. Remember to floss every day, too. Flossing gets the hard-to-reach places your toothbrush can’t; ensuring the deeply embedded debris in your teeth is removed.
And don’t forget the mouthwash. Think of mouthwash as adding a protective shield of fluoride over your teeth – all while making your mouth feel fresh and clean.
Finally, don’t put off seeing your dentist. Going to the dentist and maintaining good oral health has always been important, but as more and more research continues to uncover the link between oral systemic health and inflammatory disease, it could save your life, too.
At Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental, we are committed to protecting not only your smile and oral systemic health, but your overall health and well-being, too. Conveniently located in San Antonio, our dentists specialize in general, pediatric, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Don’t neglect your oral health – schedule your comprehensive dental exam and cleaning, today.
