Diabetes

• Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to high blood sugar levels.
• Diabetes triples the risk of gum disease, which leads to tooth loss.
• Dental care for gum disease can reduce HbA1c levels and improve glycemic control.
• Annual health care costs for Medicaid patients with untreated gum disease were approximately $4,600 higher than for those who treated it.
• Tooth loss reduces the ability to eat a nutritious diet.
• Read More: Understanding the connection between gum disease and diabetes from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Heart Disease

• High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a chronic disease where the blood pressure in the arteries is too high, creating risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, vision loss, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.
• Patients with gum disease have a 22% increased risk of hypertension.
• Patients with hypertension have more severe gum disease, which leads to tooth loss.
• Annual health care costs for patients who receive gum disease treatment are approximately $1,090 lower than for those who do not.
• Tooth loss reduces the ability to eat a nutritious diet.
• Read More: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) from the American Dental Association.
• Read More: Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts 2025 Toolkit from the American Heart Association

Substance Use Disorder

• Substance use disorder (SUD) is the pattern of drug usage that affects health and well-being. This mental health condition affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a substance.
• Nearly one in eight opioid prescriptions are related to dental treatment.
• Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) side effects include tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth.
• Substance use can cause damage to teeth from dry mouth, tooth grinding, heat, or chemicals.
• Unemployment or homelessness resulting from substance use limits access to dental care.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

• While pregnancy is not a chronic disease, it is a change to the body that has several health considerations. Oral health during pregnancy and infancy is especially important to set up families for a lifetime of good health.
• Poor oral health during pregnancy is linked to dangerous and deadly adverse birth outcomes like early birth, low birth weight, and pre-eclampsia.
• Pregnancy can cause or worsen gingivitis and gum disease, which leads to tooth loss.
• Annual health care costs for patients who receive gum disease treatment were about $2,400 (for a first-time pregnancy) or $1,500 (for a second-time pregnancy) lower than for those who did not.
• Bacteria that cause cavities is shared between mother and infant, predisposing a new baby to oral health problems.