Gum disease, or periodontal disease, occurs when plaque and food particles enter the space between the teeth and gums and cause an infection. This condition is harmful to your teeth and gums, but it can also affect the rest of your body if you don’t see your dentist for treatment. Here are a few conditions that may arise from gum disease. 

How Can Gum Disease Affect Your Health?

1. Heart Disease

Since periodontal disease is an infection, it causes inflammation in the body. Studies have found that this symptom of gum disease may put patients more at risk for heart disease. Short-term inflammation is key to healing infection, but doctors continue to see links between long-term inflammation and a variety of chronic heart conditions.

2. Diabetes 

Research has shown that individuals with diabetes are more at risk for gum disease. This is in part because people with diabetes are often more likely to experience infections in general.

Gum disease also may make blood sugar control more difficult, increasing the risk of developing diabetes complications. This occurs when bacteria in the mouth that causes gum disease may leak into the bloodstream and trigger the body’s defense systems. This can result in a spike in blood sugar. If you have diabetes, be sure to talk to your dentist about gum health.

3. Cancer

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, individuals with gum disease are also more likely to develop pancreatic and other cancers. While experts aren’t certain about the cause of this correlation, watching out for the symptoms of gum disease and seeing your dentist regularly can help you minimize this risk.

If you would like to learn more about gum disease and your overall health, make an appointment with Diane M Evans DDS in Rush, NY. This dentist offers Monroe County patients a variety of services in her friendly office, including general, cosmetic, and family dentistry. View a full list of her services by visiting her online, and call (585) 321-1460 to make an appointment.