Gum disease is a condition that affects millions of people. According to studies, almost half of adults over the age of 30 are affected by gum disease. Their symptoms may not be noticed until they go to a dentist for an oral examination.
Our oral health is just one part of a larger system and any issue with it can affect our entire body. Neglecting it can lead to gum disease and progress to life-threatening health conditions.
Here are health conditions that will help you understand how maintaining your oral health can prevent you from experiencing serious health problems.
How Does Gum Disease Develop?
The formation of plaque and tartar initiates the progression of gum disease. These bacteria infect gum tissues and bone structure, releasing toxins that cause tooth loss and chronic inflammation.
Young patients often do not show signs of gum disease because the onset of infection may be painless. Symptoms only become more common when an adult turns 30 to 40 years old.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Bad breath
Red or inflamed gums
Bleeding gums
Pain when chewing
Loose teeth
Sensitive teeth
Gum recession
At first it begins as gingivitis or inflammation of the gums, but is already the beginning of periodontal disease. Gum disease or Periodontal disease is a chronic infection-related gingivitis that requires lifelong care. Unfortunately, it can only be managed but never reversed. What’s more, it can trigger other life-threatening conditions such as:
Heart Disease
Chronic inflammation is the enemy of our body. It becomes a problem when the body starts attacking healthy cells. This is why gum disease is linked to heart disease.
According to experts, patients with poor dental hygiene are three times more prone to heart disease.
Gum disease adversely affects the blood pressure of hypertensive patients and impairs the effects of hypertension drugs.
One study found that Periodontitis and its Association with Coronary Artery Disease or PAROKRANK gum disease increased a patient’s risk of heart attack by 49%.
According to experts, inflammation in your mouth is directly related to inflammation in your heart. On a good note, the treatment of gum disease has shown a decrease in blood pressure in some patients, raising hope for further studies on the link of periodontal disease to heart disease.
Diabetes
Bacteria thrive in the presence of sugar. High glucose levels in the body help the bacteria multiply, which allows microbes to attack the teeth and gums, causing gingivitis. On the other hand, periodontal disease raises blood sugar levels, which can put you at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
How does gum disease raise blood sugar?
Bacteria that infect the gums will seep into the bloodstream and cause a disturbance in the body’s immune system. In defense, the body triggers an increase in blood sugar levels to fight bacteria.
Because chronic inflammation is associated with gum disease, controlling blood sugar levels in diabetic patients can be difficult. Likewise, diabetes can make it harder for the body to fight infections such as gum disease.
Rheumatic Joint Inflammation
The bacterium, called Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, is found in both gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis patients. It triggers the inflammatory autoimmune response of our body’s defense system, which overactivates immune system proteins. Thus, it causes joint inflammation.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Gum disease is also linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s in a patient. According to this study, the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) found in gum disease is also found in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects many people. It starts with memory loss and worsens over time. Experts have warned that prevention is crucial to avoid complications like Alzheimer’s disease, as bacteria from gum disease have many tendencies to infiltrate the body.
Lung Inflammation
Pneumonia, COPD and asthma are another set of health conditions that are affected by gum disease and chronic inflammation. According to experts, infection in the gums triggers the immune system to be on high alert and causes inflammation throughout the body, including the airways and lungs.
The coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a contagious respiratory infection with a high mortality rate. Because of the chronic inflammation in patients with gum disease, they have a higher chance of contracting COVID-19 and suffering from its worse complications.
Watch out for the quiet onset of gum disease and schedule an appointment right away. Some diseases can only be treated like periodontal disease. The next time you brush and floss, realize that you’re not just doing it for your teeth, but for your body as well.
