By
[http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Gerald_McConway/528288]Gerald McConway
Many have likely heard from their dentist or others how
oral health is essential for one's overall health, with it being impossible for
one to be totally isolated from the other. As of recent calculations, over 80
percent of Americans live with periodontal disease, with many usually never
receiving a formal diagnosis.
This could be because a patient's teeth might feel fine,
thus he or she avoids the dentist, and doctor's visits are rarely focused on a
patient's oral health. However, patients may be surprised to learn there could
be a couple of links between heart disease and oral health.
For instance, recent studies indicate that if someone
has mild or advanced gum disease, he or she has a greater chance of developing
heart disease compared to someone who has healthy gums. As well, oral health
can provide warning signs for doctors on a variety of conditions and diseases,
such as those involving the heart.
