Houston Cosmetic Dentist, Ronald W. Konig DDS,FAGD, LVIF, reports that research from Case Western Reserve University has found evidence of a link between gum disease and bad knees. Believe it or not, scientists have found traces of gum bacteria in the knees of patients with rhematoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Essentially, they traced bacteria from the mouth to the fluid that baths the kneecap. They analyzed the DNA and determined it entered the bloodstream from the gums and settled in this fluid in the kneecap. The study states that in healthy subjects the fluid is normally sterile and that the bacteria can make the diseased areas worse. My guess is that this could also affect the fluid in the jaw joints as they are both synovial fluid joints, this means that gum disease may also make TMJ issues worse too.
More research is needed, but the conclusion is that gum disease does have a impact on one’s overall health. It pays to take care of your mouth for your overall health as well as your teeth.
If you have any questions regarding Houston Cosmetic Dentistry or Houston Dentistry, please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W.Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF,713-668-2289.
