Is Your Gum Disease Making You Sick? Our Highlands Ranch Dentists Explain

Gum disease is a significant dental disease. It is estimated that 8/10 people suffer from some sort of gum disease. Gum Disease can be as simple as gingivitis (swollen or bleeding gums) to something more complex as periodontal disease (loss of bone around teeth). Our Highlands Ranch dental office wants you to know that gum disease doesn’t just affect your mouth and teeth but could be causing more serious health problems.

What are some health problems associated with gum disease?

1. Increase risk for Heart Disease, High blood pressure, and stroke. People with gum disease are twice as likely to die from heart disease and three times as likely to die from stroke.
2. Increases your risk for development of diabetes to 93% as compared to a healthy mouth. If you develop diabetes and gum disease increases your risk from 400% to 700% of premature death.
3. Increase your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
4. 80% of women with gum disease have low birth weight newborns and higher risks associated with premature births.
5. Increases your risk of developing pancreatic and kidney cancer by 62% according to a Harvard Study.
6. Increases your risk of developing cancer in the head and neck region.
7. Bacteria that causes gum disease and cavities can be spread to others through kissing or sharing of food and drink.

It is important to take of your oral health! The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and an unhealthy mouth leads to an unhealthy body. Make sure to schedule your routine check ups and cleanings with our Highlands Ranch Dental office. People who suffer from gum disease may need to be seen at least 3-4 times per year for cleanings and check ups! Call our Highlands Ranch dental office today at 303-694-9740. Our family has been proudly hand crafting smiles in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Castle Pines, and Parker area since 1982.