House-leveling repair businesses in the Dallas area live by the mantra, “If you own a home that sits on clay (which they mostly all do), you’re going to be doing some repairs on your foundation”. Add 100+ degree heat over the summer and it’s almost a guarantee that foundation problems are-a-coming!!
Here comes the segue…
Over these years, we’ve understood that our teeth have their “foundation” in gums and bone. Yep! And diseases of the gums and bone are common worldwide.
In moderate to advanced stages, these gum diseases express themselves with inflammation and bleeding certainly, and infection as it advances. More often than not, the patient is unaware of these subtle but progressive changes.
The problem is: diseases of the mouth don’t stay in the mouth. When gums bleed, bacteria is transported like passengers on a bus in the common circulation, through each organ of our body.
Links and the effects of circulating bacteria affect ongoing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s are known. A range of cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s, pneumonia and pregnancy complications, including fetal birth weight are all associated with these circulating bad boys.
One of my patients sent me a great article on this very subject, the association between gum/periodontal disease of the mouth and the bacterial link of these various diseases noted above. The article can be read in full with the link below:
The silent danger of deep gum disease
Yes. I know. Just one more thing to add to your Health-To-Do list.
Keeping yourself healthy must include consistent daily home hygiene and periodic cleaning evaluations by your hygienist and bald headed dentist!
An ounce of prevention…
Further reading
