Risks of Not Making Enough Saliva

• Tooth loss
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes

The buildup of bacteria in your mouth can enter the bloodstream and potentially settle on existing coronary artery plaques and help form clots in the arteries that feed your heart. Gum disease bacteria could directly increase atherosclerotic plaque buildup which can worsen conditions such as:

• Diabetes
• rheumatoid arthritis
• chronic kidney disease
• some forms of cancer

People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease as people without gum disease. A recent study showed that people with diabetes who have gum disease are six times more likely to have their blood sugar control worsen over time than those with diabetes but not gum disease. People with diabetes and gum disease are also at greater risk for kidney disease compared to people with diabetes who don’t have gum disease.