The Mugford Center Covid-19 UpdateAt The Mugford Center we prioritize the safety of our patients and employees. We have always taken extra precautions to provide our patients with a clean and sterile environment. In these times we make sure to go above and beyond what the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners recommends. Our goal is to make everyone who comes into our office feel as comfortable as they possibly can. -Dr. David Mugford and The Mugford Center team. Read More |
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Posted on 10/10/2019 by David Mugford |
![]() Does One Of These Diseases Cause The Other?A number of studies have been conducted to determine whether having rheumatoid arthritis automatically brings on gum disease and vice versa. However, the researchers are unable to come up with a solid conclusion. It is noted that people living with rheumatoid arthritis are eight times more likely to have gum disease. There are arguments that it is because they experience weakness in their limbs and are unable to clean their mouths efficiently.This claim does not hold water as more factors remain omitted. People with gum disease are similarly at a higher risk of suffering rheumatoid arthritis, especially after getting to the stage where they begin to lose their teeth. One finding that cuts across though, is that having either of these diseases highly increases your likelihood of getting the other or amplifies its severity. So What Is The Common Ground? Trying to pinpoint a common ground using scientific studies is not easy. However, the one thing the two diseases have in common is inflammation. With arthritis, patients suffer from joint inflammation while with gum disease, the gum swells even to the point of creating gaps between the teeth. Taking better care of one's oral health has proven to reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis in patients. It is also advised to take care of your teeth to avoid offsetting your chances of getting problems with joint inflammation in the future. To continue this conversation and learn more, call us at our offices or plan a visit. |