Gum Disease Can Harm Much More Than Your Teeth

Proper oral hygiene may do a lot more than keep your teeth bright and cavity-free -- it could be a boon to your overall health.


A growing body of research suggests that periodontal disease may exacerbate a variety of health problems as wide-ranging as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease -- even premature births, experts say.


For instance, several promising studies have found that blood-sugar levels in diabetics with periodontal disease were reduced to normal when the patients' gum disease was treated. Other research revealed that the incidence of respiratory diseases among nursing-home residents was cut when they were treated for gum disease, said Dr. Robert Genco, distinguished professor of oral biology at the School of Dental Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo...more