Periodontitis is a disease that usually originates in the dental region. This type of dental disease is characterized by a red, swollen, and bleeding gum. Typically people who have suffered from severe gum disease may also experience teeth loss which is common among adults.
But can gum disease cause health problems beyond the mouth? Periodontal health problems are often linked to serious health problems. Studies have found that people with periodontal disease, compared to those without, were more likely to develop heart disease or have difficulty controlling blood sugar. Periodontitis has been linked to increased inflammation in the body as indicated by the raised levels of C-reactive protein and Interleukin-6. With the raised level, there is also an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a common arterial disease which a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries obstructing blood flow.
Individuals with impaired fasting glucose and diabetes mellitus also have higher degree of periodontal inflammation. They often have difficulty balancing their blood glucose level due to the continuous systemic inflammatory state caused by periodontal inflammation.
Periodontitis can also be connected with these three conditions. Firstly, impairment or delayed memory and calculations abilities to elderly people particularly those over 60 years of age. Some studies state that women with gum disease were more likely to deliver preterm and low birth weight babies, yet this kind of condition hasn’t been determined whether gum disease is the culprit. And thirdly, even though no causative connection was proven yet, a recent study revealed the epidemiological association between chronic periodontitis and erectile dysfunction, but of course further studies are still being done to establish the link between erectile dysfunction and periodontal disease.
There might be other factors of why people with periodontitis may sometimes develop additional health issues. Say for instance, a patient may also suffer health problem along with gum disease or may be a coincidence that gum disease and other health problems are present together. Obviously, more research is needed to clarify whether gum disease could cause health problems beyond the mouth or not and also in order to know if you treat periodontal disease can it also prevent the other health conditions from developing or not.
On one hand, it is also true that by controlling gum disease you are also saving your teeth and that periodontal disease treatment must be acquired before it gets too late. So do not wait for periodontitis to cause further health complications.
Prevention is better than cure; thus, it is important to keep ones teeth and gums healthy by brushing twice a day, flossing to remove plaque between teeth, stop smoking, and visiting the dentist regularly for check-up and professional cleaning.
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