How does chronic gum disease or tooth decay increase my risk for other general physical health problems?
You may not have thought about it before, but your mouth is a key entryway into the rest of the body and its systems. If your mouth has a chronic infection or disease, then your entire body may be indirectly or directly exposed to those bacteria. Furthermore, the resources needed to maintain your general health may then be diverted to handle the chronic infection, weakening the overall natural protection your other systems typically enjoy. And in fact, research documents connections between periodontal disease and poor heart health, increased risk for stroke, increased incidence of respiratory diseases, increased risk for diabetes and exacerbated symptoms in existing cases, problem pregnancies, and an increased incidence of osteoporosis in women. What’s more, some studies indicate that those who lose all their natural teeth may have a much shorter life span.
