Do you have mild gum disease? If your gums are red and inflamed, if they bleed when you brush or floss, and/or are chronically sore, you may have a mild case of gingivitis, also known as gum disease. You may think it isn't serious, and that it will clear up on its own with extra attention to your oral health care. This may be the case for some people.

However, if you have been lax in your oral care enough for gum disease to develop, or if it is a genetic condition with you, you probably won't get it to heal without professional gum disease treatment. Gum disease is more than just a tissue irritation, as well. It can cause a number of more serious health problems you may not have even considered.

Here are three really compelling reasons to get gum disease treatment today.

1. Gum Disease Increases the Risk for Some Cancers in Men

If this isn't scary to you, not much will be. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, men with gum disease are significantly more at risk for several types of cancer than those without gum disease. The cancers gum disease predisposes men to include:

• Blood
• Pancrease
• Kidney

While there is no word yet on how gum disease affects the risk for certain cancer types in women, it can be surmised from the study on men that their risk is probably increased, as well. Whether you're a man or a woman, it's better to play it safe than be sorry when it comes to even mild gum disease. Getting it treated will protect your health, period.

2. Gum Disease Raises Your Risk of Dementia

Gum disease can rob you of your memory as you age. The cause behind this is probably the inflammation that is associated with diseased gums. If the inflammation is extreme, it can affect every part of your body, including the part of your brain that controls memory.

Studies have actually proven this link. Mild gum disease usually produced milder forms of dementia. Severe gum disease can produce very bad dementia. Of course, no level of dementia is good. Protect your memory for your future by keeping your gums healthy today.

3. Your Heart Disease Risk Is Increased If Your Gums Are Diseased

One of the more serious health complications of gum disease, and the hardest to treat once it gets started, is heart disease. Numerous studies have shown there is a definite connection between gum health and heart health. This is not something to be taken lightly.

The bacteria produced in gum disease can get into your heart and cause inflammation and other problems. This is especially true if you already have a pre-existing heart valve problem; this puts you at additional risk.

Inflammation is also a culprit in the gum disease/heart disease connection. The inflammation can cause plaque to form and build up around the heart. This may lead to you having to get stents to surgically correct the problem later. It's better to avoid open heart surgery in the first place by getting gum disease treatment if you need it.

Conclusion

Gum disease is a serious health condition that you must not ignore. It is more than just mere discomfort on your gums, though that alone should be reason enough to get it treated. Left to run rampant, it can cause many serious health conditions that are more difficult to treat than the gums themselves.

These health conditions can reduce your quality of life, or even shorten it. Ensure a long, healthy life of quality by keeping your gums healthy and getting the proper treatment at the first signs of gum troubles. Call your dentist for a consultation today.