What Untreated Gum Disease Does to the Body

Gum disease can cause pain, swelling and loss of teeth to name a few things. Those should convince a person to take steps to prevent gum disease or to get treatment for gum disease as early as possible, but it is not enough for some people.

They may need more convincing that gum disease is not something they should ignore. If they knew the impact it can have on their whole body, they may have the information they need to do something different.

What Gum Disease Can Lead To

The impact on your oral health is only one way that gum disease affects the body. There are plenty of other problems that you are at a higher risk for if you have untreated gum disease.

• Heart Disease – The bacteria that lead to gum disease can enter the blood stream. These bacteria can lead to problems with the cardiovascular system. They put the individual with gum disease at a higher risk for heart disease.
• Stroke – Gum disease can double the risk for stroke in some people.
• Diabetes – Diabetics are at a higher risk of gum disease because of the impact it has on their immune system. Gum disease also increases the amount of sugar the body produces which puts people at a higher risk for diabetes.
• Respiratory Disease – Gum disease and the bacteria can lead to respiratory problems including pneumonia.
• Arthritis – It may not seem like there is a relationship between cum disease and arthritis, but if you have gum disease you are 8 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Gum disease also puts you at risk for cancer, cognitive impairments, dementia and osteoporosis. That may not mean you will face all these problems, but they are more likely to happen if you also struggle with gum disease. The best thing you can do is try to keep good oral health through good habits.

For more information about how your oral health and gum disease can impact your body, schedule an appointment to learn from one of our dental professionals.