If your teeth and gums are in good condition, you’ll be more likely to bare them, and you’ll have more reasons to smile.  There is clear evidence that taking care of your teeth and preventing periodontal disease leads to greater overall health.

The word periodontal literally means “around the tooth.”  Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone holding your teeth in the mouth.  One reason periodontal disease could contribute to other ailments, researchers say, may be that oral bacteria get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation of other body tissues.

According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), people with gum disease are twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who don’t have gum disease. Bacteria can spread throughout the body, inflaming coronary arteries and causing changes in blood pressure, heart rate and heart function.  This process promotes blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Gum disease is also one of the major complications of diabetes.  The ADHA reveals that approximately 95% of Americans who have diabetes also suffer from periodontal disease, and research from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) shows people with gum disease have more difficulty controlling blood sugar levels.  This relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease has prompted more studies, but the results of the current research suggest that severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, putting diabetics at increase risk for complications.

Gum disease can also affect respiratory ailments, like pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema.  Bacteria can travel from the mouth to the lungs and lower respiratory system, where it can lead to or aggravate respiratory diseases, especially in patients who already suffer from other diseases and conditions.