Your mouth is a window to your overall health... you probably heard it before, but, how serious is the link?

The connection between your overall health and your oral health is deadly serious.

The age of the “tooth mechanic” is over. Dentists must be aware of the severity of oral disease and how debilitating it actually is. Science has proven a close link to infections in your mouth and your overall health. Treating this infection should be the number one priority! A dentist can dramatically improve a patients health by educating the patient on the links between their oral health and their body’s health.

Many health conditions are tied to your oral health. People often do just about anything to stay healthy – they exercise, eat well, see their medical doctor, etc., but often ignore their oral health.

Well, here is a short list of conditions related to the mouth, directly from the Mayo Clinic website:

• Endocarditis – An infection of the inner lining of your heart. Bacteria enter through your infected, puffy gums and travel directly to this vulnerable area and begin destroying the engine that keeps you alive.
• Cardiovascular Disease – Gum disease, periodontitis, has been closely linked to this killer. Clogged arteries and stroke are just one part of this disease that once again is linked to the bacteria in your mouth entering through infected and inflamed oral tissue.
• Diabetes –  This disease is a double edged sword. People with diabetes have more frequent and severe infections of the gums, which in turn allow bad bacteria to enter and increase the severity of diabetes.
• Pregnancy and Birth – Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. The bacteria in your gums that enters through inflammation and infection can actually cross the placenta! We do anything for our kids – seek out the best schools, best food, etc., but how about giving them a good start by preventing the dangerous bacteria in gum disease to pass through to them when they are in the womb?
• Alzheimer’s Disease – Tooth loss before the age of 35, probably related to gum disease, has been related to this debilitating disease.

There are MANY more diseases and conditions related to the mouth. We simply need to find the common denominator – INFECTIONS of the GUMS! Too many terrible things happen if we ignore gum disease. It is called the silent killer for a reason…

So, take a step towards better health, today. Focus on quality dentistry, healthy gums, which will help you manage all the other diseases we face as we get older. Give your immune system the strength to focus on other parts of your body, not just your mouth. Find a mouth doctor, not a tooth mechanic. Get a dentist with a plan to treat the underlying cause of all the problems, infections in your mouth.

Keep Smiling.