“Can gum disease kill you?”
I know that gum disease is very common in the United States, but that it also can be easily prevented. If it's not treated, is it possible for gum disease to kill you?
3 Answers
Gum disease can be serious. We know that the bacteria that cause it can travel to other parts of the body like your heart. Some studies report it linked to heart disease. Prevention is always the best medicine.
Dr Jensen
Dr Jensen
The bacteria causing gum disease are the same bacteria which can cause heart disease, so there is a risk involved. You should get it treated if you have gum disease.
Gum disease itself doesn’t kill people directly. Periodontitis is the type of gum disease that includes damage to the bone that supports the teeth and accounts for more tooth loss every year than any other cause with tooth decay coming a close second. Periodontitis generates byproducts from the inflammation caused by the body fighting germs. These byproducts are then transported by the blood stream throughout the body. People with periodontitis have a 50% increased risk of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes and a 40% increased risk of cancer. So, gum disease doesn’t kill, but those other problems certainly do.
