Periodontics
Periodontal Disease (sometimes also known as Pyorrhea, is an infection of the gums and bone that hold your teeth in place. Left untreated, it causes loss of the bone anchoring your teeth- and subsequent loss of the teeth.
According to the American Dental Association, Periodontal Disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in the United States.
Periodontal Disease & Heart Disease
Did you know that people with gum disease are FOUR times more likely to be afflicted with Heart Disease than people who don’t?
That’s right. Recent studies at The University of Minnesota confirm that a chronic infection in your mouth (which is what Periodontal Disease is) allows the bacteria to enter your blood stream. These bacteria may cause blood clots and block your arteries, possibly even triggering a heart attack.
Other studies have shown that plaque bacteria entering the bloodstream through infected gums may also cause a potentially fatal heart disease called infective endocarditis. This is a bacterial infection which causes the sac around the heart to become inflamed.