People With Gum Disease Often Feel More Arthritis

Many people who have rheumatoid arthritis are unaware of the connection between their oral health and the pain they may feel from arthritis. If you are struggling with a lot of arthritic pain, some changes and improvements in your oral healthcare can greatly reduce joint pain.

Oral Health Care and Arthritis

There is clearly a connection between having periodontal disease and suffering from joint pain. The tissues that are located in our mouths are very similar to the tissues of our joints and since our blood travels through our bodies carrying nutrients, oxygen and waste from one place to another, it makes sense that any kind of disease can find its way through our bodies. Although how the two are exactly connected no one really knows for certain, one thing we are sure of is that treating periodontal disease and in some cases reversing it, can greatly help with the symptoms of arthritis.

Taking good care of your oral health means brushing at least twice daily and flossing regularly at home. If you are a smoker, please consider quitting as smoking greatly reduces the saliva flow in the mouth and accelerates the progression of periodontal disease. If you are at a greater risk of developing periodontal disease, whether by genetic predisposition or environmental influences, you need to come see us regularly for checkups and exams.

At your exam, we will not only clean your teeth, we will help you remove plaque and tartar build up below the gum line. We also measure the depth of the tissue around the roots of your teeth, looking for pockets where bacteria can hide and grow. Also communicate with our staff if you or anyone else in your family have ever been diagnosed with either periodontal disease or rheumatoid arthritis. The more we know, the more we can help you with your oral health!