Something I’ve heard many times, usually referring to pain, however a growing body of medical evidence suggests we should consider the words at face value!

Everyone understands that good dental hygiene is the cornerstone of good dental health, a clean fresh mouth looks good, feels good and preserves the teeth. What is not so widely known is that good dental hygiene is also a cornerstone of good general health. Bacteria from uncontrolled gum problems can enter the bloodstream and travel around the body contributing to other serious health problems. Current research appears to indicate a direct causal link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and premature birth.  The presence of uncontrolled oral disease also complicates control of other chronic health conditions – lung disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and osteoporosis. Very recent research implicates poor gum health in some cancers – particularly pancreatic, kidney and blood cancers. Men with untreated gum disease are 3-4 times more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction.