Nearly half of the people over age 30 in the U.S. have periodontal disease according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It occurs more frequently in men than women, is more likely to occur in current smokers and is most prevalent in Mexican-Americans. In those 65 and older, the rate increases to over 70%. Men with this gum disease are 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and 30% more likely to develop blood cancers according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). The common factor in all of these diseases is inflammation, which is the body's response to insult. According to Dr. Greg Fauth, “Our immune system that produces inflammation is like a well-functioning army.” He explains that, “When it becomes necessary for the army to go in too many directions, fighting too many battles, the army's ability to effectively control each insult is compromised and disease will occur in the weakest link in
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