Oral health, an important indicator of health

Submit gum problems could be related to other diseases. It has long been known that oral health is a reflection or indicator of overall body health.
Several studies have linked periodontal health to heart disease, stroke and pregnancy problems and new research suggests that gum disease could foreshadow the possible development of diabetes.
The discovery was published in the July issue of Diabetes Care, and is the latest report to link poor gum health with serious disease.
Last year, Harvard researchers found a surprising link between gum health and pancreatic cancer.
Between 35% of adults estimated to have some form of gum disease, nearly one in three has a worrisome level of infection. The gum disease is linked to the use of snuff, but the side effects of some medications, such as dry mouth can also contribute to oral health problems, and genetics also plays a role.