Per·i·o·don·tal (adj) relating to or affecting the tissues (gums) that surround the neck and root of a tooth.
Advanced gum disease, or periodontal disease, is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. It can also cause bone loss, infections, “gum-line” cavities and severe pain. Studies have shown a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease as well as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and even some forms of cancer! This is not merely a mouth problem but affects the entire body.
We have only recently learned that this horrible disease is communicable (contageous) and can affect those we are intimate with. If damage is severe enough and infection is not controlled by conservative treatment, surgery may be required.
Serious But Stoppable
Although gum disease is terribly pervasive, it is also preventable. Conservative estimates report that up to 80% of all people suffer from some level of chronic gum disease. What’s worse is that this disease is responsible for up to 70% of adult tooth loss. Unfortunately, the early signs of gum disease are both silent and serious, requiring the trained eye of a dentist to detect, treat, and arrest gum inflammation and infection. However, once arrested, you can prevent gum disease from recurring… simply by developing healthy hygiene habits in conjunction with a proper maintenance schedule with your dentist and hygienist.
Bacteria, Poor Choices, & Uncooperative Genes
Several factors contribute to periodontal disease, including plaque build-up, lifestyle choices, and heredity. The most common and controllable factor is bacterial plaque – the sticky, colorless film produced by normal oral bacteria. Unhindered, they release toxins (poisons) that break down the natural fibers holding your gums to your teeth, allowing even more bacteria and toxins to invade. Over time, this process can permanently damage or destroy the affected tooth, tooth root, and even the jawbone! Further, plaque deposits quickly harden into calculus or tartar – a rough, porous irritating substance that brushing does not remove.
Poor lifestyle choices can also affect the body’s ability to fight infection and irritation in the gum tissue area. Poor nutrition, stress, leukemia, AIDS, & diabetes all reduce the body’s natural ability to ward off periodontal disease. Smoking and chewing tobacco also greatly irritate and weaken the gum tissue, inviting disease.
Heredity. Some people are simply born with a low resistance to gum disease. All of this explains why we carefully check for the warning signs at every visit: red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, gums pulling away from teeth, loose or separating teeth, pus between the gum and tooth, persistent bad breath, bite changes, and/or a change in the fit of partial dentures. These symptoms are often overlooked increasing the importance of regular dental exams.
DID YOU KNOW
- Some studies have suggested a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease, which can lead to adverse events, such as heart attack and stroke.
- Tooth loss and periodontal disease may increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes result from a blockage in an artery leading to the brain. They are the most common type of stroke. The link between ischemic stroke and periodontal disease, which is caused by bacterial infections, adds another piece to the growing body of evidence that infection plays a role in stroke and heart disease.
- Preliminary findings in several ongoing scientific studies suggest a link between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis – the symptomless buildup of artery-clogging plaque in the carotid arteries, the vessels that feed the brain.
PERIODONTAL – HEART DISEASE ARTICLES
