Over the last decade various media sources have presented stories concerning the connection between periodontal (gum) disease, an oral infection, and other diseases in the body. The New York Times ran a story calling into question the relationship between gum disease and coronary artery disease. Others have highlighted the positive relationship between gum disease, diabetes, stroke, low birth-weight babies and coronary artery disease.
What are the facts? We do know that gum disease occurs as a direct result of bacteria, being ineffectively cleansed from the teeth. The connections between gum disease and the previously mentioned disease processes are real, but remain loosely defined and incompletely understood. We do know that the byproducts of periodontal infection set off a cascading series of events within the immune system. These byproducts have the capability to negatively effect other parts of the body. It is the cascade of biochemical mediators brought about by gum disease that are related with other diseases. Diseases now cited within the scientific literature with a strong association to periodontal disease include:
- Kidney Disease
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Stroke or CVA
- Diabetes
- Premature Labor/Low Birth Weight
- Arthritis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
Our promise to you is that we will do all in our power to ensure that periodontal disease is detected, and properly treated. We also commit to you that you will receive the most current medical-dental information to enable you to make informed decisions regarding your oral and general health care.
