The Further Problems That Can be Caused by Gum Disease

Gum disease can be prevented through good oral hygiene, but if you fail to get it right and you allow gum disease to take hold, it’s not just your gums that can be impacted. Not everyone knows it, but gum disease is actually linked to a range of other health problems. We are going to take a closer look today at some of the health problems that can be caused by untreated gum disease. So read on now if you want to expand your understanding of this oral health problem.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is one of the problems that’s often associated with gum disease, and that’s something that shocks a lot of people. But it should give you a clearer idea of just how serious gum disease is when it doesn’t get treated properly and in a timely manner.

It’s not yet clear whether gum disease causes heart diseases, but there is a clear overlap between the two conditions. It’s often the case that there are factors such as smoking or a bad diet, which can cause heart disease and gum disease alike.

Links to Brain Health

There has been research that’s found a link between tooth problems or gum disease and cognitive function. That means the quality of your oral health can have an impact on how your brain functions and how well you’re able to think and function mentally.

There’s even been a link between some types of gum disease and symptoms generally associated with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why it’s so important to prevent gum disease, and if it does start to take hold, to get it treated by a professional at the soonest possible opportunity.

Connections to Other Diseases

There are lots of other diseases that researchers have found might be linked to gum disease in some way as well. For example, some research has suggested a link between gum disease and some types of cancer, as well as a link to erectile dysfunction in men. 

There are clearly lots of links here, and many of them go beyond what most people would expect. We simply don’t tend to connect gum disease with all of these other health conditions in our mind. But they do exist and that’s why care should be taken.

Good Oral Hygiene Matters

Good oral hygiene is the thing that matters most of all here. Gum disease and other oral health issues can all be prevented or treated more quickly if you’re looking after your oral hygiene and seeing a dentist on a regular basis.

So make sure that you’re doing the basic things right from day to day. These include brushing twice daily with an electric toothbrush and a good fluoride toothpaste.

As you can see, it’s important to take gum disease very seriously. If you’re not yet doing so, now is the time to change that. You can get in touch with our team and arrange a time to see a reliable and trusted dentist at a time that suits you if you have any concerns about your dental hygiene.