Whole-body health
Oral Inflammation
Some recent, groundbreaking studies have addressed the critical importance of oral hygiene’s role in your overall health.
— Oral-systemic health
Oral health is not just about a great smile.
Oral health and wellness are:
- Essential components of preventive cardiology.
- A significant accessory to diabetic treatment.
- A significant part of the deterrence of any inflammatory illness.
Here are a few key facts to consider:
- Inflammation is a leading cause of death and the number one source of inflammation in humans is oral inflammation.
- Oral inflammation plays a critical role in inflammation overall and associated inflammatory diseases.
- Dental professionals and their prescribed treatment plans can greatly reduce the occurrences of oral inflammation.
— Our commitment
We Are One of the Founding Participants of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Wellness.
The American Academy of Oral Systemic Health
Persistent inflammation, like that associated with periodontal disease, may create significant health risks if not adequately treated promptly.
The mouth is the gateway for many pathogenic bacteria that can negatively affect our health. It’s also a location for potential infections that can cause serious health issues. As a result, maintaining proper oral health is critical.
Because your mouth has a constant source of bacteria, there is always a risk that these harmful bacteria can spread throughout the body, causing various inflammatory diseases.
— Research
Consider the following:
The American Heart Association Journal cites studies showing a direct link between oral pathogens (those associated with periodontal disease) and acute heart attacks. The studies have shown that as many as half of all heart attacks are triggered by oral pathogens. In other words, quality dental care and good oral health should be a part of any discussion about heart attack prevention.
In a study of more than 500,000 participants, periodontal disease was shown to be a major risk factor for strokes. More importantly, the same study shows that when periodontal treatment is performed the risk for stroke is reduced significantly.
When it comes to those suffering from diabetes, periodontal treatment has been shown to be as affective in lowering A1C levels as most medications, but doesn’t include many of the harmful side effects. Plus, a reduction in oral inflammation in diabetics can lead to a decrease in health-care costs by as much as 25% per year.
Several recent studies have shown that periodontal disease and/or early tooth loss could be an indication of increased risk for dementia.
Recent research has found that many common oral pathogens may not simply contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease, but they many actually be the cause of it.
— The medical field
Here's What the Medical Field Has to Say About Oral Inflammation
Oral swelling has a substantial effect on overall inflammatory disease. Not only is the elimination of such inflammation helpful, but increasingly the medical community is demanding it.
At a recent symposium on heart health, Dr. Marc Penn, MD, PhD, and former director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at The Cleveland Clinic, stated very clearly, “Don’t ever forget to look at periodontal disease as an important source of inflammation in reference to cardiovascular disease.”
One of the most influential cardiovascular surgeons, Dr. Lloyd Rudy, said it best when he compared the body’s inflammatory response to that of a house fire. “Inflammation is fire. When vascular walls around the heart catch fire, we have heart attacks and strokes. Think of the body as a house and the mouth as the kitchen – when we have gum disease, we have a ‘fire’ in our ‘kitchen’ that may burn down the house.”
— The latest research
Some of the latest research on oral inflammation is supporting this indisputable truth.
As we’ve established, oral inflammation may negatively impact overall health. Understanding the role of periodontal disease concerning oral-systemic wellness is critical to successfully managing a patient’s oral health.
Most of the time, you can’t see early-stage inflammation, and it probably doesn’t hurt. Fortunately, our dental professionals now perform a simple test to detect oral inflammation and include it as part of every dental exam.
We now know that the mouth is not just another body part. It’s the most influential part.
Watch the video
Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health. Don't let it stop there!
What happens in your mouth affects your entire body.
Watch this 3-minute video explaining bacteria buildup in your mouth and the link to systemic diseases. You’ll be amazed!
— Related care
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