On the occasion of World Oral Health Day, experts at AIIMS on Friday said that dental health is an indicator of one’s overall health, including risk of heart diseases and stroke.
They also drew attention of all the stake holders like health care providers, policy makers, NGOs, private sectors, and general masses towards the mouth and body connection. “Gum diseases are linked to several problems in other parts of the body. Problems in gums are a risk factor for stroke.
Periodontal (gum) diseases increases risk of stroke by 1.5 to 2 times, particularly and particularly chances of Ischemic stroke which happens due to blockage of blood vessels,” Dr Kameshwar Prasad, head of neurology department at AIIMS said.
Prasad explained how gum diseases can lead to stroke. “Diseases affecting the gums of an area around the teeth which is resting on bones, that area is very close to blood vessels below the teeth. So bacteria enters through the diseased roots of the teeth into the blood vessels leading to a fight between our body defence cells and the bacteria.
They also drew attention of all the stake holders like health care providers, policy makers, NGOs, private sectors, and general masses towards the mouth and body connection. “Gum diseases are linked to several problems in other parts of the body. Problems in gums are a risk factor for stroke.
Periodontal (gum) diseases increases risk of stroke by 1.5 to 2 times, particularly and particularly chances of Ischemic stroke which happens due to blockage of blood vessels,” Dr Kameshwar Prasad, head of neurology department at AIIMS said.
Prasad explained how gum diseases can lead to stroke. “Diseases affecting the gums of an area around the teeth which is resting on bones, that area is very close to blood vessels below the teeth. So bacteria enters through the diseased roots of the teeth into the blood vessels leading to a fight between our body defence cells and the bacteria.