Can Strep Throat Cause Gum Disease?
Because your mouth is connected to your throat, getting strep throat can have an impact on your teeth and gums. However, the health of your teeth and gums can also increase your chances of getting oral infections. The friendly dentists at Sunrise Dental can help you keep your mouth healthy so you can prevent infections like strep throat and gum disease.
What Is Strep Throat?
Strep throat is an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by the bacteria A streptococcus. These bacteria spread through the nose and mouth, causing sneezing, coughing, sore throat and other symptoms. Strep infections are typically mild and can be treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat that starts very quickly
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Strep Throat and Oral Health
A case report shows that A streptococci may cause inflammatory periodontal disease as well as cavities. The report also concluded that conventional gum disease treatments could be helpful in treating streptococcus infections.
When you have a sore throat, performing a consistent dental hygiene routine can feel uncomfortable. However, regular brushing and flossing will help combat infections of the throat and tonsils, and will make the recovery process quicker.
Dental Treatment for Strep Throat and Gum Disease
Sunrise Dental can help you treat gum disease and prevent strep throat infections with regular dental cleanings. We also offer diode laser treatments that painlessly remove inflamed gum tissue and kill infectious bacteria.
While strep throat predominantly affects the throat and tonsils, without proper cleaning and attention, your gums can also become inflamed. If you have bleeding gums, swollen gums, bad breath, or loose teeth, you probably have gum disease.
Sunrise Dental in Glendale specializes in treating and preventing gum disease. We offer cleanings, diode laser therapy, and prophylaxis, as well as scaling, planing, and periodontal surgery. We can help you stop gum disease in its tracks. Contact us to make an appointment today.
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