One of the most valuable services you can receive from a dental office is a professional dental cleaning. In the past, you may have thought of this service as “just a cleaning.” The truth is a dental cleaning will help you prevent the emergence of dental and systemic illnesses. Current research has shown a direct link between oral health and overall health. Untreated gum disease destroys the tissue and bone surrounding the teeth and eventually causes tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults age 35 and over in the US. But the effects of gum disease can be felt way beyond the mouth and jaw. Research links gum disease to a variety of systemic conditions that affect overall health including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and even pregnancy complications.

We refer to this as the mouth-body connection. Because gum disease has mild and often unnoticed symptoms in the early stage, many people don’t realize they have a problem. The Surgeon General reports that at least 80% of American adults have some form of gum disease. At Windsor Dentistry, we are proactive in fighting gum disease. A healthy mouth is the first indictor of a healthy body!