GUM DISEASE A SILENT KILLER

There is mounting evidence that shows a link between periodontal disease -- chronic infection of the gums, or gum disease -- and a host of serious and sometimes lilfe-threatening medical problems, from heart disease to diabetes and respiratory disease.

So don't be surprised the next time you are examined for potential heart disease, when the Doctor pulls out a tongue depressor and says "say aah". The Doctor is looking for signs of gum disease. In fact, when it comes to assessing a person's general health, the first place many physicians look is in the mouth.

Some researchers believe that the bacteria shed by chronic oral infections (gum disease) can spread through the bloodstream and contribute to disease in the heart and other parts of the body.

There are other researchers who belileve that chronic gum disease may trigger a chain of chemical events that causes inflammation (swelling) throughout the body. When plaque lining the arteries becomes inflamed, blood clots can form, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

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