How Periodontal Therapy in Boonville Benefits Overall Health

Many people think of oral health and overall health in separate terms. It’s how our healthcare system is set up, that dentistry is its own thing apart from medical care — but in reality, your teeth and gums can greatly impact or be impacted by what is going on in the rest of your body. Caring for one promotes the health of the other.

Gum disease, for example, poses a serious threat to overall wellbeing. People who have the chronic condition should seek periodontal therapy in Boonville ASAP. Doing so can help reduce the risk of developing a host of health conditions, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and others.

Why Your Gum Health Matters

Your gums are an entry point into the rest of the body, and bacteria that exists here can quickly be spread to other organs, like your lungs. People who have gum disease are at a higher risk of the respiratory condition COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Gum disease is also a chronic inflammatory disease, and having inflammation in one area of the body increases the risk of having it in other areas. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection — and in small amounts, it’s a good thing. Chronic inflammation, however, eats away at healthy tissue and leads to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and even certain types of cancer.

Your blood sugar levels can also be affected by gum disease. In fact, periodontitis occurs so commonly alongside diabetes that the two are now considered associated conditions. Fortunately, treating gum disease can help to control blood glucose levels, and vice versa.

Periodontal Therapy

So what’s the conclusion to be drawn from all of this? It’s that your oral health matters — especially your gums. Schedule an appointment with your dentist right away if you are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease.

The warning signs of gum disease include:

• Bleeding, red, inflamed gums
• Receding gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Tooth sensitivity
• Shifting teeth
• Missing teeth

In the early stages, gum disease can usually be reversed with improved oral hygiene habits at home and a couple of extra visits to the dentist. For more moderate levels of the condition, you may need a scaling and root planing treatment, AKA a deep cleaning that reaches below the gum line. The most advanced stages of periodontitis require surgical treatment.

Maintaining Good Oral Health

It is absolutely crucial for you to visit your dentist in Boonville AT LEAST every six months to prevent gum disease. Your overall health depends on it! During these visits, we will check in on your gums and teeth and clean away the substances that cause decay and infection. We will monitor the presence of periodontal pockets, or the spaces where bacteria live, and get started with gum disease treatment right away if you need it!  

About the Author

Dr. Joseph T. Kelly is a trusted provider of comprehensive dentistry for Boonville and the surrounding areas. To learn more about his services or to schedule an appointment for periodontal therapy, you are invited to contact the office at 660-882-7522.