How is gum disease related to heart disease?

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Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a dental condition that has to be detected early on to prevent it from causing problems to the heart. The challenge is that it's hard to detect gum disease during its early stages since it's usually painless. When periodontitis advances, however, patients feel severe pain due to the pus-filled pockets formed by tartar.

How in the world is it connected to heart disease? According to medical research, the bacteria found in the mouth can affect the heart once it enters the blood stream and reaches the heart since it causes clots in the heart. This is why doctors and dentists want to detect this condition early on to prevent it from worsening.

Are you unsure if you have gum disease? The first stage is gingivitis, wherein the patient experiences swelling or redness of the gums and bleeding. If you are experiencing this, schedule a consultation with your local Portland Maine dentist right away for diagnosis and treatment. Your dentist will also help you keep your gums healthy.