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Poor oral health can lead to severe medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s and diabetes. To protect your health, finding a dentist near you, like Goichi Shiotsu, DDS, at Mercer Island Dental in Mercer Island, Washington, is important.
Our team is dedicated to providing comfortable, customized care for you and your family. Here are some serious health issues linked to poor dental health:
- Heart Disease: Bacteria from gum disease can enter the bloodstream, increasing plaque in arteries and raising the risk of heart attacks. Gum inflammation also contributes to heart problems.
- Muscular Dystrophy: High creatine kinase levels in muscle tissues, caused by poor oral health, can lead to muscle weakness and diseases like muscular dystrophy. This disease mainly occurs due to the absence of the dystrophin gene and negatively affects the muscle cells and muscle fibers. This could lead to Becker muscular dystrophy. You can confirm the diagnosis of this progressive muscle disease with genetic testing and clinical trials.
- Diabetes: Gum disease makes it harder to control blood sugar levels. High blood sugar encourages infections, including in the gums, worsening diabetes symptoms.
- Lung Infection: Bacteria from the mouth can travel to the lungs, causing pneumonia or worsening chronic lung diseases.
- Pregnancy Issues: Gum bacteria can reach the bloodstream and affect the fetus, leading to premature birth or low birth weight.
- Skeletal Muscle Problems: A study showed that poor oral health conditions in hospital patients contributed to limited mobility, memory or thinking problems, poor nutrition, and low skeletal muscle strength.
At Mercer Island Dental, Goichi Shiotsu, DDS, and our team provide expert advice on maintaining good dental habits to protect your smile and overall health. Taking care of your teeth helps safeguard your entire body, ensuring a healthier life.
