Periodontal disease affects as many as 50% of adults, and disease severity increases with age. Gum disease can range from mild gingivitis with bleeding gums as the primary symptom to aggressive periodontitis, leading to rapid tissue damage, bone loss, and eventual tooth loss. When bacteria remain unchecked in your mouth, plaque forms, leading to tartar accumulation, inflammation, periodontitis, and worsening systemic health issues. Early gum disease treatment in Hicksville and Plainview, NY, with our periodontist, Dr. Graig Fischgrund, can help prevent the cascading health effects of gum disease.
Although research links gum disease and tooth loss to various chronic diseases and conditions, proving a direct cause and effect is elusive. This is due in part to the fact that several systemic conditions and medications to treat them can affect oral health. In addition, the same risk factors are associated with some medical conditions and periodontal disease. One well-established theory is that chronic inflammation in the oral cavity may increase inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, triggering an immune response and increasing C-reactive protein levels. This key inflammation biomarker has been linked to obesity, cancer, and heart disease.
High C-reactive protein levels are associated with a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 47% of Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as diabetes, obesity, poor diet, alcohol abuse, or smoking. A significant overlap of these factors increases the risk of periodontal disease and heart disease.
Gum disease is common in people with diabetes and is considered a complication. The relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is two-way because high blood glucose affects oral health, while periodontitis impacts a patient’s ability to control glucose levels.
Numerous studies suggest a relationship between oral hygiene and acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD, and pneumonia. Five studies demonstrated a positive association between periodontal disease and lung cancer risk after adjusting for smoking status. Two of the same studies showed a statistically significantly higher risk of lung cancer with more missing teeth.
Studies indicate gum disease increases the risk of kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and blood cancers in men by 49%, 54%, and 30%, respectively.
Although not well understood, the increased secretion of estrogen is believed to be a contributing factor to periodontal disease during pregnancy. Several studies suggest an immune response occurs in pregnant women with gum disease, thereby impacting the immune system of the unborn infant. Untreated gum disease in pregnancy may heighten the risk of premature, low-birth weight and babies born with cerebral palsy.
Studies suggest periodontal disease is associated with a low folic acid level. Malnutrition is a factor that can predispose people to gum disease. Conversely, painful gum tissue and tooth loss associated with gum disease can significantly impact the ability to eat a nutritious diet.
A large-scale study conducted in the UK found that people with periodontal disease had a 37% increased risk of mentally ill health, including depression and anxiety. Furthermore, as the number one cause of tooth loss in adults, gum disease can cause a hit to self-esteem, affecting how people communicate at work and in other social settings.
Early diagnosis and treatment decrease the risk of tooth loss and associated systemic connections. A combination of proper home oral hygiene and professional periodontal care in Hicksville & Plainview, NY is the best way to ward off harmful oral bacteria and periodontitis. Periodontists undergo extensive training focused solely on the gums, so they offer more precise and complex treatments than general dentists. Whether you’re suffering from bleeding gums, loose teeth, or late-stage gum disease, minimally invasive gum disease treatment from Dr. Fischgrund can prevent gum disease from wreaking havoc on your overall health!
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