For some
reason we have been programmed to think of our mouth as isolated from the rest
of our body. People, who may otherwise
be health conscious, might not necessarily place the same priority of care on
their dental health, and that’s a mistake.
The mouth is obviously part of the body, and the disease that exists in
the mouth is affecting the rest of our body, and the disease that is present
elsewhere in our body may be reflected in the mouth.
The
original research on the oral-systemic health connection related to the
connection of gum disease to heart disease.
Some researchers have suggested that gum disease may contribute to heart
disease because bacteria from infected gums can dislodge, enter the
bloodstream, attach to blood vessels, and increase clot formation.
It has also been suggested that inflammation
caused by gum disease may also trigger clot formation. Clots decrease blood flow to the heart,
thereby causing an elevation in blood pressure and increasing the risk of a
heart attack.
According
to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease (gum
disease) are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (heart
disease). One study found that the
presence of common mouth problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and missing
teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels.
When
patients present with gum disease and have blood tests performed to determine
the degree of inflammation present in the system, those readings are high. However, after the gum disease is treated and
is under control, the inflammation markers shown in blood tests is greatly
reduced. When patients are being treated
for heart disease and blood tests reveal high levels of inflammation, there is
a decrease in these levels after successful treatment of gum disease.
This
information, and more on this subject, presents a wake-up call to the people in
our population who are victims of the false belief that dental and overall
health aren’t connected. We hope it
sheds light on the importance of regular dental checkups which include
evaluations for periodontal disease, and the subsequent treatment of it.
If you have not seen a dentist in a few years, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with Dr. Orest Komarnyckyj at (602) 266-3430 or DrK@azimplantdentist.com (or
your general dentist) for an update on your oral health. Your overall health depends on it!
You may also visit our website at: http://www.azimplantdentist.com
