{"id":196,"date":"2019-02-12T22:12:04","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T22:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/?p=196"},"modified":"2019-03-06T22:12:17","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T22:12:17","slug":"heart-health-and-gum-disease-awareness-in-jacksonville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/heart-health-and-gum-disease-awareness-in-jacksonville\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Health and Gum Disease Awareness in Jacksonville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Did you know that gum disease can affect more than just your\ngums? If you didn\u2019t, you\u2019re not alone. Nearly half of American adults over the\nage of 30 have periodontitis, a more advanced form of gum disease. Could you be\none of them? February is National Gum Disease Awareness Month\u2014the perfect time\nto help spread gum disease awareness in Jacksonville and learn about how it can\naffect your overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is gum disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an\ninflammatory condition the occurs in the gums. The bacteria that live in plaque\ncreate toxins that irritate your gum, making them red and swollen and sometimes\nbloody during brushing. This beginning stage is called gingivitis. Over time,\nthe toxins cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating gaps where\nplaque and food particles can accumulate. At this point, it has developed into\nperiodontitis and starts spreading. Ultimately, if left untreated, gum disease\nleads to tooth loss and permanent damage to the bone and tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you lose a tooth, it not impacts not only your smile\u2019s\nappearance but also its function. You use your teeth to bite, chew, and speak,\nso losing one can make these tasks more difficult, leading to problems with\ndigestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does gum disease affect my heart health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although more research is needed to show definitive\ncausation, studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart\ndisease. In one study, those with both diseases were found to have higher cardiovascular\ncare costs than those who only have heart disease. Other studies state that gum\ndisease raises your risk of heart disease by as much as 20 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What other ways can gum disease affect my health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease has also been linked to many other diseases,\nsuch as diabetes, kidney disease, preterm birth, and certain kinds of cancer. One\nrecent study suggests a possible connection between gum disease and Alzheimer\u2019s.\nSo how can a disease that occurs in your mouth influence so many different areas\nof the body? One theory states that when your gums bleed during gum disease, it\nmay allow these harmful bacteria into your bloodstream, spreading and\npotentially causing inflammation throughout your body. All the more reason to\ntake the steps necessary to treat and prevent gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is gum disease treated and prevented?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For gingivitis, periodontal\ntherapy<\/a> in Jacksonville can be as simple as a routine cleaning. For more\nadvanced cases, however, more intensive care may be needed. Your dentist may\nneed to perform scaling and root planing\u2014basically a deep cleaning and\nsmoothing out of exposed root surfaces\u2014to help prevent re-infection in the\nfuture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention is surprisingly simple. Do basic healthy oral\npractices, such as the following, and you can significantly lower your chances\nof getting gum disease:<\/p>\n\n\n\n