The holiday season is all about giving.We took part by tying jingle bells to our shoelaces and raising funds for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis.

Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability? It affects more than 50 million Americans including over 300,000 children – yes, kids get arthritis too. Arthritis is much more than just aches and pains.

For many, it significantly impacts their ability to complete simple tasks like dressing themselves or even walking. We had so much fun today, and we hope you did too! Thank you for helping us raise a small portion of the total of over $650,000 that will be used to serve 1.3 million people in Washington who live with the daily pain of arthritis.

FROM THE OFFICE of Hoag & Dotsch DID YOU KNOW……….

Evidence for the link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis comes from their common pathogenic process and a common genetic association between the two diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that usually begins gradually. When joint inflammation sets in, the joints become swollen and lifelong treatment is required, as there is no cure.

Some research has shown improvement in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms following successful periodontal treatment. This is likely due to the decrease in the oral contribution to the total inflammatory process of the body.

We want to get the message out that the oral cavity is directly linked to your entire body and the chronic inflammation that occurs from gum disease, if not addressed or prevented before it takes hold, can impact inflammatory processes in the rest of your body, including diabetes, heart disease, premature birth and stroke.

It is simple…good oral health is essential to your overall well-being.