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Is Gum Disease Hurting Your Health?

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Not a big flosser? Hate the dentist? It’s a bigger deal than you think, say researchers, who found that men who neglect their teeth risk more than just bad breath and a dull smile. In fact, gum disease can lead to heart disease and erectile dysfunction, among other woes. It’s definitely a man’s issue: More than half of all men — 56 percent — have gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gum disease

It’s time to know more about the risks.

Erectile Dysfunction

A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed that men in their 30s with inflamed gums from the periodontal disease were three times more likely to have problems getting an erection than men with healthy gums. That’s because periodontal disease can trigger vascular problems throughout the body, including inhibiting blood flow to the penis.

Heart 

Where there’s gum disease, there are bacteria, and those microbes eventually burrow into the bloodstream where they trigger inflammation, including in the arterial walls. That can narrow and block the arteries, resulting in heart disease. All parts of the body are connected, explains New York City periodontist Stuart Froum, D.D.S. “As studies continue to look at the health of peoples’ teeth and gums and how this impacts overall health, they will likely find links between the health of a person’s mouth and the health of the rest of the body.”

Prostate 

Studies show that men with red, inflamed, or swollen gums have higher levels of the enzyme prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which may indicate an inflamed or infected prostate. Elevated PSA levels may also be a sign of prostate cancer.

Cancer

If you have a history of gum disease, you are 14% more likely to develop cancer than guys with clean gums. The research breaks it down further: you are 49 percent more likely than women to develop kidney cancer, 54 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancers.

Your Gum Game Plan

Scared yet? The good news is that preventing gum disease isn’t hard to do. You already know where to begin: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss at least once a day, rinse with mouthwash, and visit your dentist every year.

Even with good habits, though, some men are genetically susceptible to gum disease, says Dr. Froum. “Despite aggressive oral care habits, these people may be more likely to develop periodontal disease.” To find out if you’re susceptible, talk to your dentist about taking a genetic test. If it’s positive, you want early intervention treatment by a dentist or periodontist, says Dr. Froum, “to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.”

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