In an article in the Wall Street Journal in 2011, experts spoke about the ways in which your gums, teeth and lips can disclose early indications of health problems in other parts of the body. In effect, when you smile, your dentist sees far beyond your teeth.
You may never have heard of diabetes dental treatment, but regular checkups from your dental specialists will aid in taking care of diabetes-related receding or swollen gums. This can be helpful in controlling diabetes.
Dental problems can cause diabetes or worsen an existing case, if they are not treated. Serious gum disease can be a first sign of diabetes. Diabetes may cause:
- Gum Disease
- Tooth Decay
- Gum and Mouth Infections
- Salivary Dysfunction and Dry Mouth
- Delayed Healing of Gum Infections
If you have diabetes and it is not properly controlled, the high salivary glucose levels may add to the development of bacteria, which causes more tartar and plaque. This will eventually lead to chronic infections and inflammation, says the American Dental Association.
Periodontal disease is also linked to heart disease, although they are not things you would think of together. In a study by the American Heart Association of people who were not known to have heart disease, it was found that people with higher levels of disease-causing bacteria n the blood of their mouth and gums were more likely to have hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in their carotid arteries. Clogged arteries can lead in some cases to stroke.
These are not the only diseases for which your Orland Park dental specialists could see clues in your teeth and gums. Osteoporosis may be linked to bone loss in patients’ jaws, and the teeth lose their firm foundation.
In addition, research has shown that oral bacteria in people with periodontal disease may be aspirated into their lungs, causing respiratory problems like pneumonia.
Men who have gum disease are almost 50% more likely to develop cancer of the kidney. They are also 50% more likely to get pancreatic cancer and about 30% more likely to have development of blood cancers.
So, it turns out that brushing, flossing and seeing your Orland Park dental specialists regularly are an inexpensive method to help keep your whole body in better overall health.
