Most people think of gum disease as a dental problem. It is, but it can also become a whole-body problem when left untreated, and that changes how seriously gum health should be taken. Gum disease and gingivitis affect millions of people who often have no idea anything is happening. This is, in part, because the early stages of gum disease are easy to normalize or excuse away: a little bleeding when you brush, some puffiness that comes and goes, nothing that seems worth a phone call because it’s not technically disruptive to your daily life.

What most patients don’t realize, though, is that the health of your gum tissue is connected, in important and well-documented ways, to the health of the rest of your body. Gum inflammation is the mouth's signal that something is happening below the surface. 

This blog is our reminder that what's happening below the surface doesn't usually stay there if left untreated. So, let’s talk about how and why gum health affects more than just your mouth. 

River Oaks Dental Arts shares dental health tips and updates from Dr. Testa and Dr. Joy for Houston patients.