Osteoporosis

Knoxville, TN Dentist Shares Information About Link Between Periodontal Health and Osteoporosis

Dr. Jason A. Phillips is a Knoxville, TN family dentist who cares about your smile. Caring for your smile doesn’t just include your teeth. It also includes gum health, which is increasingly being linked to health in the rest of the body, too. There’s a strong connection between bone density and the gums. Have you had a screening for bone density/osteoporosis? Have you had your gums checked recently? Do you have signs of gum disease? Please read on.

Gum Disease and Osteoporosis: Systemic Link

If you’ve got signs of gum disease, you should have your bones checked as well, particularly if you are female and over the age of 50. The opposite is also true. If you’ve had a bone density test and are dealing with an osteoporosis diagnosis, it’s wise to see a dentist for a gum disease / periodontal assessment as well. Gum disease is present in about 80% of the population. Untreated, it can put your smile as well as your health at grave risk.

Gum disease can put you at elevated risk for bone loss as well as tooth loss. It also has a variety of other links to health, wellness, and disease risk. Heart disease, stroke, Diabetes, Cancer, pregnancy complications, and other periodontal disease risks could be putting you at risk.

The Importance of Gum Disease Treatment

Early intervention for gum disease offers the best chance for stopping this dangerous disease in its tracks. If treated early, it can often be reversed. Neglecting gum health puts your smile as well as your overall health at risk. Dr. Jason Phillips and his Knoxville dental team check gum health at every preventative dentistry check-up. When gum disease is present, treatment options, such as scaling and root planing as well as ongoing gum disease maintenance can help you stop this destructive bacteria from ravaging your smile and putting your health at risk.