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Research has found connections between infection and inflammation in the mouth and systemic diseases in the rest of the body.

To name some of the diseases that have been linked are 1.) Heart disease, 2.) Stroke, 3.) Pneumonia, 4.) Diabetes, 5.) Low Birth weight babies, 6.) Pancreatic cancer

I. Heart Disease

A newly published study confirms that people with periodontal disease are at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers found diseased gums released high levels of bacterial endotoxins, into the bloodstream. These harmful bacterial components in the blood causes harm to organs in the body such as the heart. They found that people with periodontal disease have oral bacterial components that enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to make C-reactive proteins, which are a predictor for increased risk for cardiovascular disease. High levels of C-reactive protein in the bloodstream increases the risk for plaque to build up in the arties, thus, leading to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. C-reactive protein is thought to be similar to high levels of cholesterol & triglycerides in its effects.

Several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. One is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contributing to clot formation. Coronary artery disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen to the heart and may lead to heart attacks. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.

Studies have also pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. This as you assume is due to the buildup of fatty plaques in the arties which can be dislodged from the artery walls and travel through the bloodstream until they become lodged and cause stroke.

II. Pneumonia and Respiratory Diseases

Bacterial respiratory infections are thought to be acquired through inhaling fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. Research suggest that bacteria found in the throat and mouth can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract causing infections or worsen existing lung conditions. Scientists have found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lungs causing respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. This is especially true in people with periodontal disease. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are of a much higher risk of respiratory problems if they have poor oral hygiene or periodontal disease.

III. Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections. Periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk for periodontal disease.

Research has emerged that suggest that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways- periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar increasing the risk for diabetic complications. Thus, diabetics who have periodontal disease should be treated to eliminate the periodontal infection. Studies have found that when patients periodontal infections were treated, the management of their diabetes markedly improved.

IV. Pregnancy Problems

For a long time we've known that risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to mothers having babies that are born prematurely at a low birth weight. Now evidence suggest a new risk factor periodontal disease. Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be 7 times more likely to have a baby that is born too early and too small. It appears that periodontal disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor. Furthermore, data suggest that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have an even higher risk of having a premature baby.

V. Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. It is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. According to Harvard research findings gum disease may increase the risk of developing this cancer. A total of 216 men who developed pancreatic cancer were studied. After clearing out factors like smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, diet, etc., men with a history of gum disease were found to have a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer as compared to men without periodontal disease.

People with gum disease harbor high levels of harmful bacteria in their mouths and gums. These people also tend to have higher amounts of nitrosamines, which have been proposed to increase pancreatic cancer risk. Men who reported a history of periodontal disease and tooth loss in the last 4 years showed a more than 2.5 fold increase in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer as compared to those who reported no history of periodontal disease.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. Only 5% of pancreatic cancer patients survive the first 5 years after being diagnosed. If you can, as research shows, significantly reduce your chances of heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, pre-term low birth weight babies, and pancreatic cancer by having a healthy mouth why would you not do it. We now know that there is a mouth-body connection and it is much more prominent than most of us ever believed.