| Receding and bleeding gums plus bad breath may | | | | for people with type 2 diabetes so they studied |
| mean you have periodontal gum disease, which | | | | 628 Pima Indians who were at least 35 years old |
| may increase your risk for other health concerns | | | | and had type 2 diabetes who lived in the Gila |
| including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung and | | | | River Indian Community in Arizona. Part of a |
| respiratory disease, and osteoporosis. Today | | | | study by the National Institute of Diabetes and |
| cosmetic dentistry often means that dental | | | | Digestive and Kidney Diseases, participants in this |
| implants at the top of the dental industry | | | | study had a physical exam every two years. |
| spectrum, | | | | Everyone was grouped into one of three groups: |
| Gum disease often progresses silently and without | | | | those who have mild gum disease, those with |
| pain. It's easy to know if you have periodontal | | | | moderate gum disease, or those with a serious |
| disease by paying attention to these signs. Your | | | | gum disease. Researchers then checked on the |
| gums bleed when you brush your teeth. You may | | | | effect of gum disease on the death rate. After 11 |
| have gum disease if they are often red, swollen | | | | years, 204 of the 628 people in the study had |
| and tender. If your gums are pulling away from | | | | died, and it was fifty-four of them who had died |
| your teeth, or one of more of your permanent | | | | of heart and blood vessel disease. Most of the 54 |
| teeth separate from the gums and become loose, | | | | died of ischemic heart disease (a type of blood |
| or if you have bad breath all of the time, these | | | | vessel disease that develops from narrowed |
| symptoms may be caused by an infection that | | | | heart arteries). A number of the 204 |
| causes chronic inflammation of the gums. | | | | diabetes-related deaths were a direct result of |
| Statistics (outside of children's dentistry) tell us | | | | disease of the diabetic kidney. |
| more than half those over 18 have are in early | | | | The people with type 2 diabetes and serious gum |
| stages of periodontal disease. Thes numbers | | | | disease were 3.5 times more likely to have died |
| increase to those people over 35, and there are | | | | from ischemic heart disease or kidney disease |
| three out of four. | | | | than people with less serious gum disease. Gum |
| According to several studies, people with gum | | | | disease is that it not only destroys the gum |
| infection may be more likely to get heart disease, | | | | surrounding the teeth, but the supporting bone |
| plus those with diabetes who also have gum | | | | that holds teeth in place. If there are pockets or |
| disease may also be at risk for cardiovascular | | | | spaces between your gums and Your periodontist |
| disease. Blood vessel and heart disease are | | | | or dentist may suggest a course of treatment |
| number-one causes of death for those who have | | | | that will help stop further damage to your gums |
| diabetes. | | | | and bones if you have pockets between your |
| The researchers wanted to know if gum disease | | | | teeth and gums. |
| had anything to do with the higher death rates | | | | |