Protecting Your Oral Health from Autoimmune Disease   Autoimmune diseases are surprisingly widespread across the U.S. In fact, more than 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease – and those numbers are rising. Despite how common these conditions are, many people are unaware of what exactly an autoimmune disease is, or how it can impact someone’s oral and overall health. Let’s learn more about how to spot them, the risks they pose to you and your smile, and what you can do about it.   What are autoimmune diseases? Your immune system basically functions as your body’s self-defense system. It helps protect you from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other threats. Autoimmune diseases are caused when this self-dense system doesn’t function properly and begins to attack healthy body tissue. There are more than 100 kinds of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy).   Who […]