Healthcare is on everyone's mind these days. Did you know that one of the best ways to protect your overall well-being is to visit your dentist every six months for routine teeth cleanings and checkups? It's true!
Think of your mouth as the gateway to your body, a compilation of interconnected systems. Your oral health is also closely connected with your overall health, as the bacteria and inflammation that cause gum disease can contribute to other non-dental health concerns and vice versa. Here's what you should know.
The Oral Systemic Link
When you suffer from gum disease, essentially an infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth, your immune system becomes compromised. The bacteria causing gum disease travels through the bloodstream and contributes to the inflammation causing other systemic health concerns, such as:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Dementia
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Gum disease has also been linked to certain complications during pregnancy, such as low birth weight in babies and pregnancy diabetes.
Protecting Your Health and Well-Being
You protect your overall health when you visit your dentist every six months for preventive teeth cleanings and checkups. Your dentist can detect gum disease in its earliest stages when it's easier to manage and treat more successfully. Some patients can even reverse their early gum disease (gingivitis) with improvements to their home care routine and a thorough professional teeth cleaning.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for advanced gum disease (periodontitis). However, your dentist can help you successfully manage your condition by performing a deep cleaning that reaches beneath the gumline to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Also, having additional teeth cleanings throughout the year will greatly help. In more severe cases of periodontitis, we may also recommend antibiotic therapy and gum surgery.
If it's time to protect your health with your next teeth cleaning and checkup in Wilmington, MA, call Smile Life Dental today at (978) 657-4550.