In the past, most people believed that health problems in the mouth were localized to the teeth gums and the tissues of the mouth.

However, research has shown that many times problems in one area of the body affect other areas as well.

This turns out to be true with dental disease as well. Recent research in the area of dental health has found strong links between the bacteria which cause gum disease and several other health problems.

Doctors have recently found that people with gum disease are 3-6 times more likely to experience strokes and heart attacks than people with healthy gums.

The latest theories suggest that the bacteria living under the gums enter the blood stream and directly infect the lining of the blood vessels.

These bacteria release toxins which damage this lining.

Your body tries to protect itself by laying down fatty deposits on the walls of the blood vessels which over time narrows the vessels, cutting off the circulation in the affected areas.

Sometimes pieces of these fatty plaques separate from the blood vessel walls triggering blood clots to form. These clots block the blood flow causing heart attacks and strokes.

New research now also shows that pregnant women with gum disease are 7 ½ times more likely to have premature, low birth weight babies.

Alcohol and smoking continue to increase this by 1-2 ½ percent.

Apparently, some of the bacterial proteins which cause gum disease are the same as those the body produces to induce labor.

These proteins can enter the blood stream from the gums and trigger premature births.

Other studies also show an increased incidence of diabetes, lung disease, and stomach ulcers.

Once again we find that an ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure.