• Periodontal Disease and:
  1- Smoking:
  Did you know that smoking increases the chance of developing gum disease? In fact, compared to non-smokers, smokers are five times more likely to develop gum disease. For smokers with diabetes, the risk is even higher. An individual, who is smoker and diabetic, age 45 or older, is 20 times more likely to have gum disease.
• 2- Pregnancy:
  Did you know that pregnant women experience more gum bleeding and gingivitis due to hormonal changes? Recent studies highlighted an additional association between periodontal infection and pre-term low birth weight deliveries? Early diagnosis and conservative periodontal management can control these processes and limit complications both during and after pregnancy. There is no need to avoid periodontal management during pregnancy since this can be done in a safe and supportive environment.
• 3- Heart Attack:
  Did you know that more studies confirm the association between dental plaque bacteria and heart attack? Researchers have found that individuals with uncontrolled gum disease are at a much higher risk for atherosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels) and heart attack.
• 4- Diabetes:
  Did you know that gum infection is linked to diabetes control? Individuals with poor blood sugar control get gum disease more often and more severely, and they lose more teeth than individuals with good control.
• 5- Stroke:
  Did you know that the bacteria in dental plaque could cause hardening of the blood vessel (Atherosclerosis), which may lead to stroke?
• 6- Bacterial Pneumonia:
  Did you know that a recent review of the literature related a number of respiratory pathogens to known periodontal disease?
• 7- Heart, and High Blood Pressure Medications:
  Did you know that many drugs used for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), angina (chest pain), seizure, and cancer therapy can cause gum swelling that may turn into serious gum disease if untreated? About 3 million patients for treatment of hypertension take calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, and Procardia. Dilantin, used to control epilepsy and Cyclosporines, which prevent the rejection of organ transplants, also can cause gum swelling. Enlarged gum makes it harder to brush and floss properly, which increases the chance of gum infection.