Diseases Related to Poor Oral Health

There are many different chronic diseases that directly impact your oral health. For example, periodontal disease, which affects your gums and periodontal tissues, can also erode your jawbone and lead to extensive tooth loss if not addressed. However, patients in North Hollywood who exhibit poor oral health can also experience negative impacts to their risks of other systemic diseases. In many cases, severe periodontal disease is also the biggest link in the connection, which makes effective prevention, treatment, and management of periodontal disease an important aspect in your systemic wellbeing.

Cardiovascular disease

Periodontal disease is characterized by an infection in your gums that results from excessive oral bacteria buildup. Many of those harmful bacteria lead to chronic, unchecked inflammation in your gums, which is one of the most prominent reasons behind the destruction of your gum tissues and jawbone structure. This inflammation can also pose a threat to the rest of your health, leading to inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease. In fact, patients who exhibit severe periodontal disease and prolonged inflammation are often at a much higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular trouble later in life.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Cardiovascular disease isn’t the only chronic inflammatory disease that periodontal disease can affect. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is marked by unchecked inflammation in a joint’s tissue, and the increased risks of inflammation related to periodontal disease can be a significant factor in its development. When periodontal tissues are compromised by the disease, the bleeding can allow oral bacteria to enter your blood stream. That means they can travel throughout other areas of your body, making increased risks for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis much more likely.

Protect your health from periodontal disease

Preventing and treating periodontal disease can have several profoundly positive impacts on your systemic wellbeing. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.