Posted

Your Mansfield dentists, Dr. Blair Jones and Dr. Seth Harris, recognize the importance of healthy gums. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, gum disease affects 56.4 percent of men and 38.4 percent of women. Men may develop gum disease more frequently than women because they are less likely to visit the dentist or because they possess more advanced symptoms of the disease such as bleeding around the gums. As we approach Father’s Day, Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris take a closer look at men’s periodontal health, or gum disease, and how it may influence the following components of men’s health: heart disease, prostate health, cancers, and impotence.

  • Heart disease. Research shows that heart disease is linked to gum disease. The exact correlation is unclear but possessing gum disease may put a man at a greater risk of developing heart disease. Some researchers theorize that the fact that both gum disease and heart disease are chronic inflammatory conditions may be the commonality between the two conditions. Caring for your gums may improve your heart health.
  • Prostate health. Research also shows that gum disease may accompany prostate disease. Data shows that men who acquire both gum disease and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) possess higher levels of PSA than men with only gum disease or only prostatitis. PSA, prostate-specific antigen, is an enzyme that is produced by the prostate. PSA levels increase if the prostate becomes infected, inflamed, or develops cancer. Therefore, there is some sort of relationship between prostate health and gum health.
  • Cancer. Scientific studies have also demonstrated that men who have developed gum disease at some point in their life are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men without gum disease. In particular, gum disease presents a 49 percent greater likelihood of developing kidney disease, a 49 percent greater likelihood of pancreatic cancer, and a 30 percent elevated risk of blood cancers.
  • Impotence. Men who have developed gum disease have a higher risk of experiencing impotence, particularly men who are younger than 30 and older than 70. Experts speculate that this may occur because both conditions are inflammatory conditions, and long-term inflammation can harm blood vessels and bring about impotence.

About Our Doctor

If you would like to learn more about gum disease or to schedule a consultation, please call Mansfield Dental Associates at 817-473-6227. Dr. Blair Jones and Dr. Seth Harris of Mansfield Dental proudly treat patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, Midlothian and neighboring areas.