Gum disease and general health awareness (Courtesy Datun Life)
Diseases of the teeth, gums, and mouth do not just affect your oral health, but your overall health.
Just like the body’s skin protects the muscles, bones, and major organs, the body’s gums protect the teeth. Gums also protect the structures that hold your teeth in place. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can start when plaque, made up of bacteria, mucus, and food particles, penetrates the small space between the gums and teeth. If left untreated, the gums can become infected, putting the entire mouth and a person’s overall health at risk. If gum disease progresses, it can slowly become difficult, painful, and expensive to treat.
At stage 1 (gingivitis), the gums become red and inflamed and may bleed easily. Gingivitis can usually be stopped and treated with a daily routine of brushing and flossing, along with regular dental check-ups and cleaning procedures, but it needs to be detected early, which means patients should visit our clinic the moment they display any of the telltale signs of gingivitis.
The next stage of gum disease (Periodontitis) is a more serious stage.
In this stage, the gums and supporting structures get severely damaged. One of the surest signs of periodontitis is the appearance of pockets that form when gums pull away from the teeth. The bone and ligament that support the tooth start breaking down, and over time, the tooth becomes loose in its socket. Without treatment, such teeth may eventually need to be removed.
The links between gum disease and other serious health conditions
The role of inflammation in the body is linked directly to the onset of several other serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, premature births, low birth weight after delivery, and so on.
Gum disease is directly linked to the body’s inflammation triggers, in a way that affects a patient’s health slowly, but with a dangerous level of certainty.
This means, that if a patient leaves a gum condition like gingivitis or periodontitis un-tested and un-treated, they could later develop serious diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, chronic heart disease, or be at a continuous risk radar for a full body stroke. A complete spectrum of diseases that can arise out of negligence towards gum health, include:
- Atherosclerosis and other heart diseases — Periodontal (gum)disease can increase the risk of clogged arteries and heart diseases. Gum disease is also believed to worsen existing heart conditions.
- Stroke — Gum disease can lead to more blocked arteries, thereby increasing the risk of the type of stroke that is caused by blockages.
- Diabetes — Although periodontal disease does not directly cause diabetes, it has been noted that diabetic patients with gum disease find it harder to control their blood sugar levels by the general prescribed methods.
- Respiratory disease — Periodontal diseases may also lead to lung infections, and can worsen existing lung conditions, because additional bacteria from the gums, can travel to the lungs through the link between the oral cavity and the respiratory tracts.
