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3 Medical Conditions That Can Be Directly Linked to Gum Disease |
Posted on 12/23/2021 by Todd Jorgenson |
 The state of your mouth can affect your overall health in many ways. For example, gum disease, which is an oral condition, causes several body illnesses. Medical conditions such as lung infections, heart diseases, and diabetes have been linked to gum disease.
Lung Infections
Your mouth is a common gateway to the gums and lungs. This makes the link between lung infections and gum disease less surprising. There is a significant relationship between periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease) and a reduction in lung functioning. Lung respiratory function can be affected by gum disease. The main link between these two conditions is inflammation. If the tubes that carry air into your lungs are inflamed, they reduce in size, causing restricted airflow.
Heart Disease
As much as not everyone with gum disease has heart disease, there are signs of a strong correlation between these two conditions. Again, the main link between them is inflammation. Basically, inflammation is a response to pathogens or irritants. It is a form of protective mechanism. However, if inflammation continues for a longer period, it can damage organs and tissues. There are chances that the inflammation in the gums causes a trigger that sparks inflammation in your cardiovascular system. The two conditions could also be linked to the bacteria.
Diabetes
This is another medical condition linked with gum disease. Poorly controlled diabetes leads to higher sugar in your mouth. As a result, bacteria will grow and cause gum disease. Similarly, infections from untreated gum disease can increase blood sugar levels and make it challenging to manage diabetes. This is mainly due to unmanageable sugar levels that constantly change due to gum disease. Therefore, it is important to prevent gum disease to avoid all these medical conditions. If you suspect you have gum disease, visit our offices for a professional checkup and diagnosis to avoid any health problems in the future.
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