Chronic gum disease is also known as periodontitis. It causes swollen and painful gums and loss of the bone that supports the teeth. ‘Chronic’ is a label that means the disease has continued for some time without treatment.
There may be a link between periodontitis and heart disease. The treatment for chronic periodontitis gets rid of bacteria and infection and controls inflammation. It is thought that this may help prevent the diseases of the heart and blood vessels. We wanted to find out whether treating chronic gum disease could help prevent death or reduce the likelihood of heart attacks or strokes. Continue reading
Cochrane Oral Health 