{"id":17,"date":"2019-10-10T19:55:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T19:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.333dentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=17"},"modified":"2019-11-04T19:56:07","modified_gmt":"2019-11-04T19:56:07","slug":"gum-disease-dental-hygiene-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.333dentalcare.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/10\/gum-disease-dental-hygiene-month\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If You Don’t Get Gum Disease Treated?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Did you know that besides being the spookiest month of the\nyear, October is also National Dental Hygiene Month? That means it\u2019s the\nperfect opportunity to learn all about gum disease and how to prevent it. If\nyou find that your gums are swollen, tender, or bleed easily when brushing and flossing,\nyou might have gum\ndisease.<\/a> However, a lot more than that can happen if you don\u2019t get this\ncondition dealt with. Let\u2019s look at 4 other conditions that have been linked to\nuntreated gum disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lung Problems <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A February 2019 study found that, even after accounting for\nvariables like smoking, there was a significant link between gum disease and a\ndecline in respiratory function. The most likely reason for this is the direct\nconnection between the mouth and the lungs. Gum disease increases the number of\nunhealthy bacteria in the mouth, which are then breathed straight into the\nlungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alzheimer\u2019s <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You wouldn\u2019t think that the brain and the gums are connected,\nbut studies have confirmed that they are. Multiple experiments have shown that\nthe same type of bacteria commonly found in cases of gum disease is also\npresent in the brain tissue of Alzheimer\u2019s patients. One study followed almost\n600 men for up to 32 years and found that as more teeth are lost, the risk of\ncognitive decline increases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart Disease <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main theory behind the connection between gum disease\nand cardiovascular issues is inflammation, which is a defensive mechanism as a\nresponse to infection. However, if it happens for an extended period of time,\nas it does when gum disease is present, it can damage tissues and organs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also spread to other areas of the body. One theory\nposits that bacteria in the gums may enter the bloodstream through pockets that\nthey have created between the teeth and gums. From there, bacteria can wreak\nhavoc on anywhere else in the body, but they commonly set up shop in the heart.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer Risk <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recently, a study has shown a significant link between gum\ndisease and overall cancer risk, but especially pancreatic cancer. The\nresearchers found that an enzyme commonly found in gum disease also frequently appears\nin tumors of the gastrointestinal system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prevent Gum Disease <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease is usually a preventable condition. Simply\nfollow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n