You may be slacking on going to see the dentist for one reason or another. I, myself tremble at the very thought of being strapped to a chair while getting my mouth poked at with a metal instrument. Unfortunately, I have experienced a few traumatizing episodes at the dentists’ office. Some of the visits involve me getting handed some tranquilizers to calm down. Another one entails me watching a video on periodontal disease and getting a billed the equivalent of a week’s pay.

Recent studies have shown a direct link between physical and oral health. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease can trigger inflammation throughout the body and increase the risk of life threatening conditions. It’s an infection of the gums and bone that support the teeth. It often gets ignored if there’s no pain involved and if left untreated conditions will worsen. Poor oral health has a massive negative impact on the rest of the body. Tobacco use also increases the risk of this disease.

Gum disease can lead to a heart attack because the inflammation in the mouth affects the blood stream and restricts the blood flow in the arteries. It contributes to clogged carotid arteries which are blood vessels that carry blood to the brain leading to a stroke. Studies show that people who have the worst blockage in arteries had the most severe gum problems. Tooth loss at an early age due to gum disease has also been said to quadruple the risk of Alzheimer’s later on in life. These are just some of the conditions this disease has been associated with.

To find out if you definitely have gum disease, you should go see a dentist for a full exam and check up. After taking x-rays they should check the firmness and color of the gums. By using a small probe they can measure the depth between the tooth and the gum line to determine if you have periodontal disease. The normal space is 3 millimeters or less, any more will be an indicator of how serious the disease is. Bleeding gums is normal if you don’t floss regularly or improperly. Even by flossing and brushing properly, plaque can stay on the teeth so go to the dentist regularly even if you’re a scaredy cat like me.

Lyla Feldman writes about health and fitness. Some of her favorite passions include writing about energy drinks and natural sleep aids.

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