Gum Disease Linked to Heart Disease

Gum Disease Has Connections to Heart Disease, Stroke, and Even Cancer

Modern medical studies have caused many doctors to reach an unsettling conclusion: gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. Since heart disease is often deadly, it is obvious that gum disease should be treated – pronto. The American Dental Association’s statistics show that as many as 8 out of 10 Americans already suffer from periodontal (gum) disease. If this were any other illness, such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be heralded as an epidemic! In fact, most dentists think this should be the case. However, they also realize that gum disease hasn’t been labeled an epidemic because of the impression that “no one ever dies from it.” The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not pleasant – but certainly not life-threatening. But perspective within the medical community is changing.

A recent 2017 study was done by the researchers at the University of Buffalo NY on 65,869 postmenopausal women. This study is the first national study focused on women, and particularly older women. It has found that women who had a history of gum disease had 14 percent increased risk of overall cancer. It is the first study to find an association between periodontal disease (gum disease) and gallbladder cancer risk in women and men. The risk for periodontal disease (gum disease) was highest for esophageal cancer.

Ivan K. Salmons, DDS 
1855 Indian Hills Drive  
Sioux City, IA 51104   
(712) 454-7214   
SiouxCityDentist.com