Gum disease can have serious repercussions for overall health and has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and respiratory ailments. But good oral hygiene – including daily brushing and flossing as well as visiting your dentist regularly – is the best way to avoid gum disease or detect early symptoms so it can be reversed.
1. Increased Risk of Heart Disease
People with gum disease have an increased risk of heart disease than those with healthy gums, according to recent research. While researchers don’t fully understand why, it has been discovered that the bacteria responsible for gum disease may travel throughout the body and cause inflammation within arteries (also known as atherosclerosis).
Atherosclerosis increases your risk for stroke, heart attack and other serious cardiovascular conditions. People living with gum disease also face two to three times higher odds of developing these problems due to poor nutrition, smoking or an insufficient amount of exercise.
All three diseases share one characteristic in common: chronic inflammation. While inflammation is an integral part of body’s response to infection, in these instances its presence becomes excessive leading to health issues listed above.
2. Increased Risk of Osteoporosis
Gum disease causes the breakdown of bone density in the jaw area, leading to tooth and joint problems such as swollen gums and loose teeth. Furthermore, gum disease’s destructive bacteria may enter through your throat into your lungs causing respiratory issues.
Maintaining oral health is both essential and achievable through lifestyle habits that include eating healthily, exercising regularly and attending regular dental appointments. While gum disease may be curable or manageable with appropriate dental care and lifestyle practices, left untreated it could cause more severe health complications throughout your body such as coronary artery disease, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis or poor blood sugar control – serious issues indeed that need attention right now!
3. Increased Risk of Lung Disease
Researchers have recently discovered that those suffering from advanced gum disease (periodontitis) are at increased risk for COPD, bronchitis and pneumonia due to bacteria found in gum disease entering their bloodstream and spreading throughout organs such as the heart and lungs.
At the onset of gum disease, gingivitis occurs when harmful bacteria become lodged beneath and above the gum line where your toothbrush and floss cannot reach. Over time these harmful organisms erode bone tissue that supports teeth and lead to their loss if left untreated.
Certain conditions and behaviors increase the risk of gum disease, such as smoking, pregnancy complications and medications that reduce saliva production. Luckily, gum disease can be treated effectively using laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma – cutting-edge treatments which use your own blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration.
4. Increased Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dental plaque must be cleaned off regularly through brushing and flossing to remain at bay, otherwise it hardens into tartar which erodes gum tissue and loosens teeth, as well as cause red, swollen, tender gums which bleed when you brush. Left untreated, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis (pronounced pair-ee-oh-DON-tus), which causes bone loss as well as tooth loss.
Researchers discovered that those suffering from severe gum disease tend to exhibit worse rheumatoid arthritis symptoms than those with healthy gums, due to both genetic and environmental influences. Gum disease can be prevented through regular cleanings and practicing good oral hygiene as well as giving up smoking or engaging in unhealthy habits like drinking too much alcohol; your dentist and dental hygienist will provide advice and show you effective methods for cleaning both teeth and gums.
5. Increased Risk of Diabetes
While gingivitis may be treated effectively in its early stages (gingivitis), more serious infections in your mouth may have lasting negative impacts on other parts of the body. For instance, high levels of bacteria from your mouth could enter the bloodstream and lead to inflammation elsewhere in the body.
Gum disease can increase diabetes risks because those suffering from it have difficulty controlling their blood sugar. Furthermore, gum disease has been shown to make rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other health conditions worse – in particular Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also indicated that early stage gum disease may be reversed with good oral hygiene and regular dental appointments while untreated gum disease can cause irreparable damage to teeth, bone and tissue and even reach into the brain itself if left untreated for too long.
