Your dentist in Gilbert can help you with more than just your mouth and oral care. Did you know that they are one of your first lines of defense where heart disease is concerned or that they can help you with other health problems as well?
Periodontal Disease and Your Health
What may surprise you is that a dentist is not just someone who works on your teeth and gums. She or he is also a medical professional who can help you with early diagnosis and care.
According to this article excerpt from WebMD:
“Sticky bacterial plaque that builds up on your teeth. Inflamed, bleeding gums. They don’t just threaten your dental health.
A growing body of research finds that bacteria and inflammation in your mouth are also linked to other problems, including heart attack and dementia, and may well jeopardize your overall health.
Scientists have identified several links between poor oral health and other health problems — although they can’t yet establish cause and effect. This list of health problems has been growing as research continues.
To date, scientists have found links between periodontal disease and a number of other problems, including:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Dementia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Premature birth
What’s behind the links? Experts can’t say for certain, but they believe that oral bacteria can escape into the bloodstream and injure major organs.
Inflammation is probably a common denominator, experts say. Periodontal disease, marked by inflammation, may increase inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation, in turn, is an underlying problem in diseases including heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Gum Disease and Heart Disease
Over the years, many studies have found a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, with people who have gum disease more likely also to have poor heart health, including heart attacks.
In 2009, a paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease was developed by the American Academy of Periodontology and The American Journal of Cardiology.
The joint recommendations encourage cardiologists to ask their patients about any gum disease problems, and the periodontists to ask their patients about any family history of heart disease and their heart health.” [READ MORE]
Start with a Dental Exam
How do you begin to diagnose these problems? While we recommend visiting your primary care physician, we recommend a dental exam. During the examination process, a lot of problems can be detected while they are still relatively easy to solve. For example, a cavity is far easier to treat than a abcessed tooth. All good reasons to schedule an appointment
So be proactive about your dental care, make sure you visit your dentist in Gilbert, AZ.
Gilbert Vista Dental Care
2451 East Baseline Road #210
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(480) 503-5467
https://drritapeck.com