Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Health?
It’s easy to connect obesity and unhealthy eating habits with heart health risks, but what about gum disease? As it turns out, there is a close link between a person’s oral health and heart health. You want to be able to recognize symptoms of gum disease so you can seek treatment as early as possible. Doing so will not only save your teeth and gums, but your heart as well.
The Critical Link Between the Mouth and Heart
Inflammation is the link between poor oral health and heart problems. The gums inside the mouth contain blood vessels, and the mouth itself is filled with bacteria. When unhealthy gums become inflamed, the bacteria in the mouth infects the gums, gets into the bloodstream, and travels anywhere within the body.
This is incredible dangerous to the heart since the cardiovascular system is already vulnerable to its own inflammation that causes hardened arteries. This condition, also known as atherosclerosis, makes it difficult for blood to flow to the heart. Atherosclerosis dramatically increases a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke.
When the inflammation of atherosclerosis combines with the inflammation and roaming bacteria caused by poor oral hygiene and gum disease, the results could prove fatal.
How to Treat Gum Disease and Protect Your Heart
If you make sure to visit your dentist every six months, any signs of gum disease can be caught early enough to use root planing and scaling treatments.
Root scaling and planing remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums. During root scaling, your dentist numbs the gums and tooth roots using a local anesthesia, then uses a special ultrasonic tool to remove the hard deposits of plaque and tartar from the teeth above and below the gum line.
Root planing, meanwhile, smoothes the rough spots on the roots of the teeth that often lead to gum disease. When used in conjunction with brushing, flossing, and mouth washing twice per day, root scaling and planing can restore gums to their full health once again. This frequent cleaning will be needed to maintain the health of the gums. Three-month gum maintenance cleanings are an integral part of keeping the bacteria load under control.
Your dentist can offer the guidance and support you need to prevent gum disease in the future and protect the form and function of your mouth. 19th Avenue Dental in Everett, Washington is proud to offer friendly, high-quality, compassionate dental care to keep you smiling wide. Call (425) 385-8130 today to make your appointment.
