A healthy mouth helps maintain a healthy body. Because the mouth is a pathway to the body, very good evidence strongly supports the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease. It is suspected that the cause of this link is the bacteria present in gum disease, which break loose and circulate throughout the body. Just as smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are risk factors for heart disease, periodontal disease is an additional potential risk factor.
Pregnant women can be affected by periodontitis, a form of gum disease. Important research has shown a link between periodontitis and pregnant women whose babies are born too early or at a low birth weight. Chemicals and byproducts from the body’s effort to fight the infection of periodontitis can travel through the body and cause premature labor. Visit the dentist during pregnancy for a dental examination and cleaning.
It’s not just a cleaning; it’s a lifesaver! Currently, almost one-half of Americans don’t visit the dentist regularly. Routine examinations and cleanings are an important part of maintaining a healthy mouth, as well as daily brushing and flossing and a healthy diet.