Talk with Your Dentist About the Health Risks Associated with Poor Oral Health

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- During American Stroke Month in May, United Concordia Dental, one of the nation's largest dental insurers, encourages adults to talk with their dentists about the health risks associated with poor oral health.

"Growing evidence suggests that poor oral health, particularly, gum disease, can affect a number of medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, by making them more difficult to control," said Jerome Blum, D.D.S., corporate dental director of United Concordia Dental. "By visiting your dentist regularly, you can help your mouth, and possibly other areas of your body, remain healthy."

Regular visits to the dentist can help identify potential issues. Dentists are trained to look for signs of systemic disease as part of every routine dental checkup, including bumps and sores. Dental X-rays not only identify cavities, but also early signs of bone problems. Finally, dentists can help determine if seemingly harmless mouth conditions such as dry mouth and bad breath may be signs of more serious health problems.

"Oral health includes more than strong and healthy teeth," said Dr. Blum. "Oral health also refers to the condition of your upper and lower jaws, gums and supporting tissues, chewing muscles, roof of your mouth, linings of your mouth and throat, tongue, lips and salivary glands. In addition, branches of the nervous, immune and vascular system are involved in protecting, nourishing and moving these parts as well as connecting them to the brain and the rest of the body."

For more information, visit www.UnitedConcordia.com.

SOURCE United Concordia Dental

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