PUTTING YOUR HEALTH AT RISK
Many long-term and serious diseases may be linked to how healthy your mouth is. Learn more about the health problems that are linked to your mouth:
- Heart Problems
- Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart, called the endocardium. Endocarditis usually occurs when bacteria from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
- Cardiovascular disease such as heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria.
- Gum Disease
- Premature birth and low birth weight have been linked to gum and bone disease, called periodontitis.
- Diabetes reduces your body’s resistance to infection, putting your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more severe and frequent among people who have diabetes. People who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease may be more prevalent in those who lose teeth before age 35 and those with oral bacterial infections.
- Cancer
- Pancreatic and head and neck cancer have both been linked to oral bacteria.