How Periodontal Disease Affects Your Overall Health
Forty-seven percent of US adults age 30+ have periodontitis. That is an alarming rate. That is an estimated 64.7 million Americans! Periodontitis is a gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. But it is not just your teeth! We are still learning the mechanisms between Periodontal Disease and other ailments. Inflammation seems to be the shared culprit as inflammation is a pathway for chronic disease. The toxins from the causative organisms can spread from one part of the body to another. Studies have shown a direct association between periodontal disease and systemic diseases. Some of these include cardiovascular disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, low birth weight babies and diabetes. A healthy mouth is key to a healthy body.
Statistics are from Inside Dentistry, November 2017