Risk of Stroke in Knoxville

Take Care of Your Gums

Do you believe you’re doing all you can do to minimize your risk of having a stroke? If you’re eating right, avoiding excess junk food, exercising, and avoiding tobacco you’re on the right track. But if you aren’t taking care of your oral health, you could be at greater risk than you realized. Gum disease significantly increases stroke risk and with the seriousness of a stroke and the associated mortality rate, you need to take gum disease seriously. Dr. Jason Phillips and the Family Dentistry of Knoxville team are committed to excellence in oral health, including your teeth and gums.

Strong Connection between Periodontal Disease and Stroke

There’s a strong link between gum disease and stroke. The instance of stroke in patients with untreated gum disease is staggering. Risk factors for stroke are numerous and gum disease is increasingly being put near the top of that list. When was your last dental check-up? Do you have symptoms of gum disease? If you have gingivitis, gum sensitivity, or have noticed changes in teeth (loosening, foul taste, gum sores), it’s very important to take it seriously. Gum disease, if treated early, can be reversible. Left untreated, it increases your risk of stroke and other problems, including heart disease and several Cancers.

Gum Disease Assessments and Treatments

Most Knoxville dentists screen for gum disease at every check-up. At Family Dentistry of Knoxville, we do

• Screen patients for gum disease
• Offer a variety of gum disease treatment options
• Provide gum disease maintenance for those who are diagnosed as having periodontal disease

The earlier it’s treated, the better the chance of reversing it and even if it’s not reversible, adequate maintenance can lower your chances of associated risk. Why? It’s believed that the ongoing oral bacteria enter the respiratory system, is ingested, and enters the bloodstream. The effects can be far-reaching, particularly on the immune system, which has to work constantly to try to fight that bacteria.

Caring for your gums and other healthy lifestyle choices can all work together to reduce your stroke risk. If your doctor has told you that you are at risk or if you’ve already had a stroke and want to minimize the chances of another, take doctor’s orders as well as your oral health seriously. Dr. Phillips can help. We can also help with a variety of additional dental treatments, including dentures, teeth whitening, dental implant restorations, and more.