Dental care has always been geared toward prevention, and in most recent years the medical #profession has also realized the power of prevention and education.
Now, through education and clinical research, both fields are slowly coming together to help patients understand the relationship between periodontal health and cardiovascular health.
It is a well-known fact that #ChronicInflammation in the body affects the entire cardiovascular system creating something called Inflammatory Burden, and this cumulative effect of inflammation puts our body at an increased risk of atheroma formation which is degeneration of the arteries, restriction of blood flow (high blood pressure) and an increased risk of thrombosis (stroke).
You might be asking what does this has to do with my gums, and the answer is everything!
If your gums bleed when brushing or flossing you have excess inflammation adding to the overall burden.
The degeneration leads to coronary heart disease, the most common disease of the general population. If you are diabetic and/or smoke, the risk of developing coronary heart disease increases significantly.
The good news: having bleeding gums is a modifiable factor that can help decrease these risks. Bleeding gums indicate, at the very least, gingivitis (inflammation of gum tissue) and maybe a more serious sign of periodontal disease in which bacteria has started to destroy the bone around all or individual teeth.
So remember that if your gums bleed it is important to seek care from your oral health provider.
Treatment may include changes to your current oral hygiene routine, periodontal therapy to reduce the bacterial load, topical medications, more frequent hygiene visits, and possibly periodontal surgery. Don't let something that can be corrected affect your cardiovascular health and prevent you from achieving complete health. PEOPLE WITH GUM DISEASE ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM HEART DISEASE AND THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM STROKE. - Mayo Clinic