We are all becoming much more aware of the importance of taking care of all aspects of our health. Patients at our St. Paul Family Dentist office understand that a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet and regular exercise are important. But many of these patients are not aware of the important role that good oral hygiene plays in maintaining overall health.
Recent research indicates that a link may exist between lack of proper oral hygiene and other health problems. Several recent studies have established a connection between gum disease and developing serious health concerns like heart disease. These studies show that there is evidence that bacteria associated with gum disease may also be linked to chronic infections, respiratory disease and stroke.
There is also increasing concern that gum disease poses a serious risk to pregnant women for pre-term delivery and low-birth-weight babies. Gum disease is also a threat to people with diabetes since controlling their blood sugar becomes more difficult. For example, research shows that treatment of gum disease in diabetics makes controlling blood sugar easier.
Taking all this into consideration, you can see how important it is that we view our good oral health as being closely linked to good overall health. By maintaining routine oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist, you limit your exposure to the bacteria that cause gum disease. This not only improves your oral health, but may protect your cardiovascular and respiratory system and reduce and, if you are pregnant, improve your chances of having a healthy full-term baby.
Take control of your oral health and protect your overall health by making an appointment today with the St. Paul Family Dentist for a thorough exam and professional cleaning. Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to keeping periodontal disease from taking its toll on your oral health as well as your general health.