If you've got 'em, floss 'em -- and live longer. New research says periodontal gum disease may be linked to the nation's number one killer, heart disease.
The American Academy of Periodontology has a wealth of information about caring for your gums. It tells you how to recognize the early symptoms of periodontal disease. An interactive database can help you track down a periodontist in your area.
The tender, red gums of periodontal disease are caused by bacterial infection around the teeth. Dr. Robert Genco writes in the Journal of Periodontology that the "bacteria that are associated with periodontal disease can travel into the bloodstream to other parts of the body, and that puts health at risk."
People already afflicted by other diseases, such as diabetes and respiratory disease, could face additional risk from spreading periodontal infections.
