MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION

There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence confirming the correlation between the health of the mouth and the overall body. Infections and bacteria in the mouth can spread throughout the body and lead to a host of problematic health issues. Conversely, many diseases, conditions and medications can affect your oral health. Therefore, your dental visit is not simply just about your teeth. It is also about your overall health.

Dental implants offer the additional benefit of helping to preserve the jawbone after teeth have been lost or extracted. This maintains your natural facial profile. Implants are also a good value as they can last a lifetime with good care. There are special considerations related to dental implants concerning placement, treatment time, restoration and maintenance protocol. Implants are not an option for everyone. If you have been considering dental implants it is a good idea to carefully discuss treatment with your dentist to determine if you are a good candidate.

Medicine for other conditions also can affect the health of your mouth. For example, many drugs cause dry mouth. This can increase your risk of dental decay and yeast infections. It also can affect taste.

If you have certain medical conditions, you may require specialized oral and dental care. In some instances your physician may need to be consulted with to determine the best method by which to care for you. Be sure to make us aware of all changes in your medical history at the start of your appointment.

Your oral health also can affect other medical conditions. For example, researchers have linked the inflammatory response to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease to a number of serious medical conditions such as heart disease and heart attack, stroke, pre-term childbirth, diabetes and respiratory disease.

HEART DISEASE & HEART ATTACK

Recent studies have shown that people with periodontal disease are 2.7 times more likely to suffer a heart attack.

Periodontal Disease

Studies have also shown that people with periodontal disease are 3 times more likely to suffer a stroke.

PRE-TERM CHILDBIRTH

Women with periodontal disease are 7-8 times more likely to give birth prematurely to a low birth-weight baby.

DIABETES

Periodontal infection can raise blood sugar in diabetic patients making diabetes much harder to control.

RESPIRATORY DISEASE

Periodontal bacteria in the mouth can be breathed in and increase the severity of such respiratory diseases as pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema.