Your gums and your health

Dr. Ronald Schefdore, an Illinois dentist with over 30 years experience, believes that the data is in. Bleeding gums is the most common warning light that indicates a serious risk of heart disease and other problems.

"Look in your mouth," he says. "If your gums are bleeding or inflamed, you need to see a dentist right away for some blood tests and treatment. You could be at risk of a heart attack or other serious disease or illness. It could save your life."

Dr. Ronald Schefdore, is one of thousands of dentists who believe that millions of lives can be saved and are championing a new nationwide educational effort to focus attention on this important health indicator and what dentists, doctors and people can do to reduce the risks of serious disease.

Recent research shows that gum disease, which affects 75 percent of people over age 35, has now been positively linked to a significantly greater likelihood of heart attack or stroke, undiagnosed diabetes, pregnancy complications, high cholesterol, or a number of other systemic health issues. The bacteria produced by gum disease produce nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer. Gum inflammation also correlates with elevated levels of C-reactive protein, which increases your risk to all the above diseases and complications.

"It's pretty simple," says Dr. Schefdore. "If your gums are inflamed, see a dentist and get some standard blood tests done. Tests should be run to identify the possible cause of the inflammation. You could have diabetes or some other problem that needs treatment."

Dr. Schefdore does some of the blood tests right in his office. "It's quick and easy and helps speed the diagnosis and proper steps towards treatment," he said.

"The bottom line is that if someone goes to the dentist and their gums bleed when they get their teeth cleaned, that's a sign of chronic inflammation," says Schefdore. "They need to take steps to get the cause of the inflammation identified and under control and take steps to prevent further harm from occurring."

Dr. Schefdore says that people can do a lot if they also pay attention to how they brush, floss with the newly designed tooth picks, and watch what they eat. He advocates that people get on a program of healthy eating and proper nutrition to combat the initiation and advancement of periodontal disease. Treatment and nutrition shows a decrease in C-reactive protein levels.

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