{"id":951,"date":"2019-02-15T21:17:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T21:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/?p=951"},"modified":"2023-07-18T15:29:35","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:29:35","slug":"gum-disease-awareness-waco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/gum-disease-awareness-waco\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Gum Disease Awareness in Waco is Vital to Your Overall Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_44540397__1535141512_78225-300x255.jpg\" alt=\"Healthy man smiling\" class=\"wp-image-952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_44540397__1535141512_78225-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_44540397__1535141512_78225-768x652.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_44540397__1535141512_78225.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Did you know that February is National Gum Disease Awareness\nMonth? This disease affects around half of the US population, yet many people\ndon\u2019t know the risks and symptoms. If left untreated, gum disease can actually\naffect your overall health, putting you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and\nother serious problems. Keep reading to learn how gum disease can affect your\noverall health and what you can do to prevent it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an\ninfection or inflammation of the gums that is usually caused by plaque and\nbacteria buildup. In its earliest stage, gingivitis, gum disease can be\nreversed by a good oral healthcare routine and dental visits. If left\nuntreated, it can lead to damage of the gums, supportive tissue, bone, and even\ntooth loss. Recently, research has linked gum disease to an increased risk of\nheart disease, making it more important than ever to recognize its symptoms and\nreceive treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because getting early treatment can save your smile and your\noverall health, it\u2019s important to recognize the most common signs and symptoms\nof gum disease:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tender or swollen gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red or bleeding gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Persistent bad breath<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensitive teeth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pain when chewing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teeth that appear longer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changes in bite<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loose teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can It Impact My Overall Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent studies have shown that gum disease can increase your\nrisk of heart disease, a condition caused by the blockage of your blood\nvessels, by 20%. This includes heart attack, stroke, extreme chest pain, and\ndisfunction of heart muscles, valves, and rhythm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one study, researchers examined people who had gum\ndisease and heart disease. They found that those who had received gum disease\ntreatment had at least 10 to 40% less cost of cardiovascular treatment than\nthose who didn\u2019t. This suggests a strong association between gum disease and\ncardiovascular problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, gum disease can be easily avoided by using these\nprevention tips from your dentist in Waco:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brush your teeth twice a day using a 45-degree\nangle at your gumline. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Floss at least once a day to remove plaque and\nbacteria from in between your teeth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finish your routine off with an antibacterial mouthwash.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid smoking or using tobacco products because\nthey are one of the leading risk factors of gum disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See your dentist twice a year for routine checkups and cleanings. Your dentist can remove tartar buildup that causes gum disease, and they can provide you with periodontal therapy in Waco if you need it. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Who knew that your gums could have a serious affect on your\noverall wellbeing? Use these tips to keep your gums and body as healthy as\npossible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet the Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Rick Cofer understands the link between your oral and\noverall health, which is why he wants you to be aware of some of the risks of\ngum disease. He currently practices at Premier Family Dental, and he can be\ncontacted through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or\nby phone at (254) 732-0309 for any questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that February is National Gum Disease Awareness Month? This disease affects around half of the US population, yet many people don\u2019t know the risks and symptoms. If left untreated, gum disease can actually affect your overall health, putting you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious problems. Keep reading to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=951"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1254,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/951\/revisions\/1254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierdentalwaco.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}