Smile Services

Periodontal Disease & Your Health

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and bone that surround the teeth. It's caused by plaque, a sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on teeth. Gums infected with periodontal disease are like toxic reservoirs of disease-causing bacteria.

An open doorway for bacteria

Researchers recently discovered that this chronic infection in your mouth creates an open doorway for plaque bacteria to enter the blood stream. These bacteria - Streptococcus sanguis - may cause blood clots that can block your arteries and even trigger a heart attack.

Other problems

Other ailments have been linked to periodontal disease, including respiratory disease, pneumonia, strokes, ulcers, difficult-to-control diabetes, low birth weight babies, and infective endocarditis, a dangerous infection of the heart valves.

If you have any other questions, ask us for more information.