Our Difference
SAVING LIVES THROUGH BETTER ORAL HEALTH
Doctors and researchers have long known about the relationship between oral health and physical health. When your mouth is in bad shape, sooner or later your health will suffer.
In fact, gum disease alone is linked to a host of physical illnesses – from heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis. Studies show that people with gum disease are twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke.
It’s pretty scary stuff when you think about it. The trouble is, most people don’t think about it.
But at The Marquis Center, we do.
Because our doctors are not only board-certified maxillofacial surgeons but are medical doctors as well, we have a deep understanding of the interconnection between mouth and body – and we bring this understanding to every patient we serve.
We know that in many cases, what we do isn’t just about saving smiles but quite literally, it’s about saving lives.
HOW IS MY BODY AFFECTED BY POOR ORAL HEALTH?
Having a healthy mouth can stave off a host of health problems linked to the bacteria caused by conditions like gum disease, cavities, and infections. The bacteria that originates in your mouth can travel throughout your body and cause or worsen medical conditions.
WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN BE CAUSED BY POOR ORAL HEALTH?
- Heart Disease – Bacteria in the bloodstream can travel to the arteries of the heart and an increased risk of heart attack.
- Stroke – Oral bacteria may be a contributing factor to a narrowing of the arteries, as well as a catalyst to blood clots forming.
- Inflammation – When gums are inflamed and bleeding, this can cause systemic inflammation in other parts of your body.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – Periodontal disease worsens the pain that people with this autoimmune disease already suffer.
- Pneumonia – Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
ARE THERE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN AFFECT MY ORAL HEALTH?
Yes, quite a few, as a matter of fact:
- Diabetes – Because diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, gum disease is more frequent and more severe in people who are diabetics.
- Alzheimer’s – Generally speaking, the oral health of people with Alzheimer’s tends to get worse as the disease progresses.
- Osteoporosis – Periodontal bone loss and tooth loss are linked to this bone-weakening disease.
- Autoimmune Diseases – Certain oral health problems – such as mucosal lesions – are common in people who have an autoimmune disease.
In addition, certain cancers and eating disorders can also be linked to oral health.