Gum Disease is the #1 chronic infection in the United States and involves chronic inflammation.
Facts: 1) Only 1 in 10 people floss on a regular basis.
2) Only 50% of the population visits the dentist in any given year.
Key Point: There is a lot of gum disease in our population and there is a lot of undiagnosed gum disease out there walking around.
Our mouth is the Gateway to our body. Research has shown a link between gum disease and: Heart Disease, Diabetes, Premature/Low Birth Weight Babies.
Heart Disease: gum disease causes chronic inflammation in our bodies. This inflammation causes the liver to secrete a protein called C-reative protein (CRP). With elevated CRP levels the risk of a heart attack goes up.
Diabetes: The systemic inflammation that persists in one who has gum disease, in turn aggravates insulin resistance. The hallmark of diabetes is controlling blood sugar levels. One of the primary causes of too much sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia) is insulin resistance.
Premature/Low Birth Weight Babies: gum disease is linked to premature births due to the bacteria that cause gum disease slipping thru the placenta to the fetus. Once this bacterium reaches the fetus, it produces an inflammatory response which stresses the fetus. The same chemicals and hormones that mediate the inflammatory response also can dilate the cervix and trigger uterine contractions, leading to preterm labor. 30-50% of all preterm labors are attributed to poor dental health.
Gum Disease not only affects the health of your mouth, it can have a huge effect on your overall health!