Protect Your Gums, Protect Your Heart

February is the month of hearts. Candy hearts, chocolate hearts, flower hearts, and yes, even our actual hearts. In fact, February is American Heart Health Month, a time when health professionals come together to raise awareness of heart disease and talk about some habits to change to reduce the risk. Even though it may seem as if your dentist in Rochester has nothing to do with heart health, research has shown a surprising connection between the two. 

Gum Disease

An often overlooked part of overall oral health is the gums. But these soft tissues play a crucial role in overall oral health, and it’s important to keep them healthy. All too often, patients develop an infection in the gums called gum disease. It’s estimated that over 50% of Americans 30 and older have some form of this disease. Usually caused by poor oral hygiene, gum disease is a serious infection that requires early diagnosis and treatment in order to be reversible. 

Gum disease develops when plaque isn’t removed from teeth. This plaque will start to harden into tartar, and once this happens, you won’t be able to remove the tartar by simply brushing your teeth at home. In fact, your dentist in Rochester or your dental hygienist is the only one who can remove tartar. Besides that, tartar is loaded with bacteria. What happens when you leave bacteria alone? They multiply and begin to cause an infection. In this case, they cause gum disease. 

There are four stages of gum disease: 

• Gingivitis – can be reversed with early intervention

• Slight Periodontal Disease – irreversible and can cause bone loss

• Moderate Periodontal Disease – irreversible and lead to tooth loss

• Advanced Periodontal Disease – irreversible and lead to problems throughout the body

How Does Gum Disease Affect The Heart? 

When gum disease is allowed to progress into the third or fourth stages, the bacteria from gum disease can enter the bloodstream. When this happens, your body produces more C-reactive protein (CRP) than normal. Elevated levels of CRP can cause some serious cardiovascular issues including: 

• Inflamed arteries
• Blood clots
• Heart attacks
• Strokes   

Gum Disease Symptoms

It’s important to catch gum disease early when treatment is often more successful and before it can affect the heart, so it’s important to know the symptoms. Some common signs of gum disease include: 

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Puffy, tender gums
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth

If you notice any of the symptoms of gum disease, schedule an appointment with your Rochester dentist as soon as you can. 

Prevent Gum Disease 

This month, and every month, make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your gums and, in turn, protect your heart. Brush and floss every day, see your dentist in Rochester at least twice a year, eat a healthy diet, and don’t use tobacco products.

About The Author

Dr. William Hurtt

Dr. William Hurtt is a highly respected dentist with over 20 years of dedicated service in the field of dentistry. With a passion for delivering exceptional patient care, Dr. Hurtt combines his extensive knowledge with the latest advancements in dental technology. He earned his Doctor of Medicine in Dentisry degree from Temple University School of Dentistry and has since been committed to continuing education to stay at the forefront of dental innovations.

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