Oral Health and Kidney Disease

DR. RODGERS: Did you know that your oral health has a direct impact on your overall wellbeing, including the health of your kidneys?

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. My colleague, Dr. Rena D’Souza, Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, explains.

DR. D’SOUZA: Keeping your teeth clean is important for everyone’s health, but especially so for people with kidney disease. Gum disease and dental cavities can cause chronic inflammation and lead to infections travelling through your blood.

Schedule regular dental checkups to help protect your kidneys. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss regularly, aiming for once a day. If you have an oral disease like bleeding gums or gingivitis, ask your doctor to check your kidney health. And tell your dentist if you have kidney disease.

DR. RODGERS: For more information, follow us @NIDDKgov. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers.