Cavities can cause a lot of problems. They can cause pain and make it difficult to eat. But that isn't all a cavity can do. Before discussing what effect a cavity has on other bodily systems it is important to understand how cavities are formed.

Your mouth naturally contains bacteria. This bacteria feeds on food particles and converts them to plaque. Plaque is what attacks the enamel of your teeth and causes cavities. As a cavity gets worse, it opens avenues for the bacteria to work its way into your gums causing gum infections and even infections of your tooth, called an abscess. Once your gums are infected, the infection can travel through your bloodstream to affect other parts of your body.

What Other Problems Can It Cause?

When your gums are affected they cause inflammation. Studies show that this inflammation can travel to other parts of the body. Inflammation is one of the underlying problems with heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Heart disease can be a problem when you have cavities. Many people with heart disease or heart conditions that involves heart valves have to routinely take antibiotics prior to having dental procedures. This is to prevent the bacteria in the mouth that could escape into the bloodstream, from causing a secondary infection such as endocarditis. Patients are advised to let their dentist know about any health problems they have. This gives your dentist the opportunity to take precautions that will prevent further complications from the cavity.

People with rheumatoid arthritis have been found to have more missing teeth than those who do not have rheumatoid arthritis. They are also more likely to have periodontal disease which is an infection of the gums. Studies show that when patients with rheumatoid arthritis have their gum disease treated, typically have less pain and swelling than they did prior to treatment. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (602) 279-1641.