The Oral/Medical Health Connection:
Although the mouth has always been an integral part of the body, it is only in recent years that a connection between oral disease and major medical disease has come to be appreciated. Studies have increasingly shown a direct influence of inflammation of the oral tissues and other disease processes. With increasing clarity, we are finding a direct association between gum disease and medical conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and premature infant delivery.