The Importance of Oral Systemic Health

Today's blog is just a few facts about how your oral health effects the rest of your body, and the importance of having a healthy mouth. This is a little fact sheet that I received at the first annual meeting for the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, and I thought I'd pass along this information!

• The Surgeon General reports that at least 80% of American adults have gum disease

• Gum disease can cause heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

• If you have diabetes and bleeding gums, your risk of premature death increases by 400 to 700 percent.

• Gum disease and tooth loss increase risk of Alzheimer's disease

• Pregnant women with gum disease have a 1 in 7 chance of giving birth to a healthy child of normal size.

• Harvard studies state gum disease increases Pancreatic and Kidney cancer risk by 62%.

• Eliminating gum disease adds 6.5 years to your life.

• 93% of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes.

• Gum therapy improves blood vessel health and helps prevent heart attack and stroke.

• Healthy gums help prevent diabetes.

• People with gum disease are twice as likely to die from heart disease and three times as likely to die from stroke.

• Gum disease increases risk for head and neck cancer.

• Cavities are caused by a germ that spreads during kissing and sharing food.

The first annual meeting for The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health was held in Chicago, IL on June 24, 25, 2011 and I was happy and excited to be a founding member. To find out more information please visit the website: www.AAOSH.org.

Hoping that all of you are well,
Richard Stickney