Periodontal Disease—It’s More Than Just Sore Gums

And periodontal health is more than a dazzling smile. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums has become more important than ever.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums that not only can lead to tooth loss but can even interfere with other systems of the body. Periodontitis, aka gum disease, has been associated with such other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. You can assess your risk for periodontal disease at perio.org.

Good news! Periodontal disease is treatable. Daily tooth brushing and flossing are crucial, but they are not an acceptable substitute for the important annual periodontal evaluation.

When the Centers for Disease Control announced last May that women were winning the battle of the sexes in the area of periodontal health, it noted that women not only had better awareness of how to care for their gums, they were almost twice as likely to be getting regular dental checkups.

Yes, your appointment is that important. It could save your life.