Gum Disease Linked to Heart Disease

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke

Medical research has disclosed a startling truth: gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are connected. Since heart disease is typically fatal, clearly gum disease warrants serious concern. The American Dental Association has stated that 80 percent of all Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. If this were any other illness, such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be proclaimed as an epidemic! Most dentists believe this should be the case, but they also realize that gum disease has never be labeled as an epidemic because "no one ever dies from it." The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not ideal – but certainly not life threatening. But that mind-set is changing.

The American Academy of Periodontology released the following statement: "Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." Periodontal disease is attributed to a bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria inhabit your soft tissue and slide right into your bloodstream – straight to your heart.

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS  
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A 
Reno, NV 89511  
(775) 826-1838  
deBruinSmiles.com