Most people understand that eating a well-balanced diet benefits their overall physical health. As this New York Times health guide suggests, “A balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth and development.”

However, not everyone realizes the synergistic relationship between general physical wellness and dental health.

Correlation between General Diseases and Dental Health

There are a number of physical ailments that health care experts link to dental problems, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. While many have long believed that the link is periodontal bacteria, recent research suggests that the inflammation from periodontitis may be responsible.

Here’s what your Century City cosmetic dentist wants you to know. Without proper dental care, bacteria collect on your teeth and under your gum line making you susceptible to infection in the form of gum disease. As your immune system fights the infection, your gums inflame. Without treatment, this inflammation continues.

Having diabetes increases your chances of having periodontal disease. However, there is a reverse effect as well. Periodontal disease may make it tougher for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. For those with heart disease, periodontal disease can aggravate the condition. Some say there is even a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. Specifically, researchers found that people with gum disease were twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to have a stroke.

Whatever medical conditions you may have, it is important to take care of both your medical and dental health in order to maintain overall good health.

Eliminate Gum Disease to Improve Overall Health

While eliminating your periodontal disease isn’t likely to cure your diabetes or heart condition, in a 2014 study, researchers found that periodontal treatments can improve overall health. Specifically, they reported that patients who underwent treatment for gum disease had lower medical costs and fewer hospitalizations within four years.

While taking care of your teeth and gums by flossing and brushing daily is one of the best steps you can take to improve your health, eating a healthy diet and not smoking can help. Additionally, be sure to visit your Century City cosmetic dentist on a regular basis.

Your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist can provide beneficial treatment for gum disease. It may be as simple as providing a deep cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, to maintain good dental health. Additionally, he may suggest medication, such as an antimicrobial mouthwash. In extreme cases, it can require surgery.

Reduce your risk of disease. Take care of your teeth and gums. Protect your smile for years to come.