Mouth-Body Connection

The consequences of untreated periodontal disease are not limited to your mouth. Poor oral health can impact your overall well-being. Similarly, steps you take to improve your general health can also have a positive impact on your oral health.

Diet

In addition to the benefits you already know about, maintaining a healthy diet can help protect you from periodontal diseases. Recent studies have suggested that adults who ingest fewer than 500 milligrams of Vitamin C (roughly half the recommended dietary allowance) are twice as likely to have periodontal diseases.

Good sources of vitamin C include dark-colored fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, green and red peppers, broccoli, and strawberries.

Make sure you keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water. Saliva is a crucial component in protecting your mouth from tooth decay and periodontal diseases. If you suffer from dry mouth, please make sure to discuss it with our doctors. They may suggest various methods to increase mouth moisture.

Sticky foods, like raisins and candy, cling to your teeth after you eat them and increase the rate of tooth decay. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth after eating any sticky foods.

Heart Disease

Heart disease affects over 60 million Americans and is the leading cause of death in the United States. Taking care of your periodontal health may be an important step towards heart disease prevention. Research has indicated that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without it.

Researchers have found that the number of periodontal bacteria is higher in individuals that have suffered from a heart attack. In another study, DNA from periodontal bacteria in the mouth was found in the plaque of the heart’s arteries. Studies have also shown that people with deep periodontal pockets are at increased risk for electrocardiographic abnormalities.

Periodontal diseases are also a contributor to infective endocarditis, a possibly fatal condition in which the interior lining of the heart and heart valves inflame due to bacterial buildup.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are twice as likely to have periodontal disease than those without it. Researchers are not yet sure of the direction of the relationship, or if the association is the result of a causal relationship, but some theories suggest that bacterial infections (like the ones that cause periodontal diseases) can trigger the immune reaction that causes rheumatoid arthritis.

Respiratory Disease

Bacteria in the throat and mouth can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract and cause infections or worsen existing lung conditions.

Diabetes

Individuals suffering from diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetics, have a higher risk of developing bacterial infections of the mouth. These infections may impair your ability to process insulin, resulting in greater difficulty with controlling your diabetes. Periodontal diseases will be more severe than those of a non-diabetic and treatment more difficult. However, well-controlled diabetics tolerate and respond to treatment much better than poorly-controlled diabetics.

Steps to prevent periodontal disease include daily brushing and flossing to remove plaque from your teeth and gums, regular dental visits for professional cleaning, and regular periodontal evaluation. Your health professional must also be told of your history and the current status of your condition. And finally, you can help resist periodontal infection by maintaining control of your blood sugar levels.