Gum and heart disease are serious conditions, both of which are becoming more common among adults in the United States. With millions suffering from poor gum health and who unaware they have it to the rising risk of heart disease among 35-64-year-olds, it should come as no surprise that there might be a link between the two. Since February is American Heart Association Month as well as Gum Disease Awareness Month, take some time to learn more about the connection between the heart and your gums and why seeing your dentist can help prevent worsening oral and overall health problems.
How Your Gums Can Impact Your Heart
Obesity and high blood pressure are two of the most common factors associated with heart disease. If you try to explain it further, diabetes is closely associated with individuals who are overweight or obese. Diabetes is one of the risk factors and possible results of gum disease. See the domino effect occurring here?
When gum disease attacks the soft oral tissues, it can quickly escalate into what is known as periodontitis. Apart from the possibility of bone and tooth loss, people with this disease can experience an increased risk for certain health issues, such as heart attack, stroke, and even diabetes. When the infection and inflammation enter the bloodstream, it can attack the heart valves and cause problems for the cardiovascular system.
If a person has diabetes and is not monitoring their blood sugar levels, this can make it much more difficult to treat gum disease.
How Can the Dentist Help?
A dental professional is a person’s greatest chance of preventing, detecting, and treating gum disease. By maintaining regular six-month dental visits, a dentist can check for symptoms of periodontal disease and begin to formulate a treatment plan if necessary. In addition, a dental hygienist can remove plaque and tartar buildup from around the gum line and teeth to reduce the chances of developing this common dental disease.
Should it be necessary to perform periodontal therapy, a dentist can use scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gums and smooth out the tooth root to encourage the gums to reattach to the teeth.
It may also be possible to receive antibiotic therapy in collaboration with scaling and root planing. Using Arestin, which is a topical antibiotic, it is placed onto the gums and works to kill off harmful bacteria.
Gum disease doesn’t have to spell disaster for the rest of the body. Make a choice to better protect your soft oral tissues. Trust us, your mouth and heart will thank you.
About the Author
Dr. Rajiv Shekhadiya understands the seriousness of gum disease. When present, it’s important to jumpstart treatment in order to keep it from spreading, which is why he offers periodontal therapy to individuals with early-stage and advanced periodontitis. As a skilled dental expert, Dr. Shekhadiya is effective at treating his patients with gum disease because of his educational and professional background. He completed his bachelor’s degree in dental surgery from the Government Dental College and Hospital in Ahmedabad, India. Moving to the United States, he attended New York University and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. After finishing his studies, he left for Connecticut and practiced family dentistry before finally settling in Texas. To learn more, contact us via our website or by calling (940) 514-0333.
