{"id":75,"date":"2022-11-04T20:03:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T20:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rossperiodontics.com\/blog\/?p=75"},"modified":"2022-11-28T20:07:29","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T20:07:29","slug":"connection-between-gum-disease-and-lung-disease-mayfield-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rossperiodontics.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/04\/connection-between-gum-disease-and-lung-disease-mayfield-heights\/","title":{"rendered":"The Curious Connection Between Gum Disease and Lung Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When most people think about their oral hygiene, brushing their pearly whites is the first thing that comes to mind. But your gums are just<\/em> as important as your teeth\u2014after all, they hold them in place! Better yet, having healthy gums doesn\u2019t just benefit your smile and lower the likelihood of gum disease; it can also actively mitigate issues such as lung disease! Here\u2019s more from your dentist in Mayfield Heights<\/a> about this curious connection along with some tips for keeping your gums healthy and pink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Is Gum Disease Linked to Lung Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, gum disease starts with oral bacteria. Good oral hygiene can help to prevent the accumulation of this bacteria, but failure to keep your mouth clean will give it the chance to wreak havoc across your mouth. Early gum disease symptoms usually include swollen, irritated, and occasionally bleeding gums\u2014but if the disease is allowed to progress, the bacteria from your gums can easily enter your bloodstream and take a grand tour of your whole body, causing all kinds of problems including heart disease, diabetes, and in some cases, lung disease!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under normal circumstances, healthy lungs have defense mechanisms in place to fend off bacteria, but damaged lungs that are infested with bacteria can\u2019t protect themselves. These bacteria can also worsen the chronic inflammation that\u2019s associated with lung issues including asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), meaning that lung infection and disease becomes a real possibility if your gums aren\u2019t healthy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Safeguard My Smile from Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, gum disease is easily preventable by practicing adequate oral hygiene and also seeking routine preventive care. Here are some tips to help you keep your gums healthy and pink:<\/p>\n\n\n\n