Latest Dental News: Lumineers - painless option to achieve perfect smile
Diabetes, stroke, heart and renal vascular disease, and obstetric complications all have one thing in common - they are linked to the state of a person’s oral health. Research has shown that there is a link between periodontal (gum) disease and several major systemic illnesses such as those listed above.
Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is the term used to describe a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the supporting structures around the teeth. “Gingivitis” involves only the gums and “Periodontitis” affects gums and bone and other supporting tissues.
A film of plaque containing lots of bacteria forms around the teeth constantly. If plaque is removed daily through brushing and flossing, bacteria will not affect the gum tissues. But if plaque is left undisturbed for several days, the increased amount of bacteria starts infecting the gums. In response, our body mounts an inflammatory defense against the bacteria. Antibodies are also formed against the bacteria. These inflammatory products then spread to other parts of the body. Hence periodontal disease creates an oral wound that allows entry of bacteria.
Pregnancy and Oral Care
The products of inflammation affect other organs of the body. For example, prostaglandins, formed when the body tries to defend itself against bacteria, cause smooth muscle contraction. In pregnant women, this may cause premature contraction of the muscles of the uterus and lead to preterm delivery. Premature babies have a lower birth weight and are known to have more developmental problems and allergies. In addition, a higher rate of miscarriage is possible in women with periodontitis.
Pregnant women are also known to complain about bleeding gums due to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones which make the gums more sensitive to inflammation. However, if plaque or calculus have been removed prior to pregnancy and maintained at low levels during pregnancy, then little inflammation and bleeding would occur.
Diabetes and Gum Disease
Diabetics should also be aware of the state of their gum health. They are more susceptible to infections, including periodontal infections. They also take longer to heal from such infections. Periodontitis is far more common in diabetics compared to non-diabetics.
Diabetics who have untreated periodontal disease will find it difficult to control their blood glucose level due to insulin resistance. Both periodontal disease and diabetes are chronic diseases that develop slowly. To most people, there are also no obvious, outwards signs in the early phases of both diseases. However, since diabetes is known genetically to occur in families, susceptible persons can take early steps to monitor the health of their gums and prevent or delay the onset and severity of diabetes.
Mouth and Body Connection
Gum inflammation has been linked to other diseases, including heart disease. Inflammation of the inner lining of blood vessels increases the chance of formation of the atheromatous plaque that causes hardening of the vessel and eventually blocks the vessels, cutting off blood flow.
Long term studies have shown that periodontal disease occurs before cardiovascular disease and is strongly linked to strokes. Strokes occur when the atheromatous plaque becomes unstable, breaks off and lodges in the finer vessels of the brain.
Other organs affected by periodontal inflammation include the liver, kidneys and lungs. The liver is the major organ that receives, processes and detoxifies products of infections from other parts of the body. In the process, the liver releases more products that have further adverse reactions on other organs. This negative effect can be reduced through treating periodontal disease by scaling and deep cleaning together with the use of antibiotics.
The same bacteria that cause gum disease have been implicated in infections of the lungs, leading to pneumonia. Poor oral health has also been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe.
Scientific reports have shown that even bone joints like the shoulder, knee or hip can become infected and inflamed when a person has severe gum disease. It is strongly recommended that a person seek a detailed, thorough dental treatment to clear all possible sources of infection before undergoing major surgery involving the bone joints and other organs.
The soft tissues of the mouth, of which the gums form a part, show tell-tale signs of other systemic diseases too. For example, persons with HIV have suppressed immunity. Bad infections of the gums may occur, with swollen, ulcerated gums being common.
Diseases of the blood such as leukaemia, anaemia and thrombocytopenia, also show up in the gums. Leukaemic patients have over production of white blood cells which can cause swelling and bleeding of the gums, and increase susceptibility to infections. This can progress to bone loss and cause teeth to loosen.
Medical Treatment and Lifestyle
Other medical treatments can compromise oral health. For example, after a liver transplant, the patient has to take medication to prevent rejection of the new liver. Such medication has been associated with increased swelling of the gums and loss of the bone around teeth. Meticulous oral hygiene with regular professional cleaning helps reduce such occurrence. Sometimes, the excessive gingival growth needs to be excised too.
Smoking is linked to more severe periodontal disease. Tobacco has many components that are detrimental to the body, including the gums and bone. A smoker also has an altered immune response. They are more susceptible to periodontal disease and respond poorly to treatment. The longer the exposure to tobacco, the worse the outcome.
Prevention
Knowing the close connection between gum health and systemic health (the health of the rest of the body), prevention is a practical, cost effective and relatively easy option.
• Ensure that good oral hygiene is maintained through regular and proper tooth brushing (at least twice a day) and regular flossing;
• Keep twice yearly appointments with the dentist to ensure that gums and teeth are healthy;
• Address any outstanding dental problems promptly rather than waiting for the pain or discomfort to be unbearable before going to the dentist; and
• Take sufficient amounts of Vitamin C daily - excessive deficiency of Vitamin C leads to defective formation and maintenance of collagen, the cells that form the underlying structure of gums and skin
Taking care of one’s mental health is also important, since stress causes an increase in cortisol, decreasing one’s immune response to bacterial challenge. Being stressed out may also cause a person to neglect basic oral hygiene care, thus leaving more bacterial plaque around the gums.
Our body is a living system. Infections in one organ can cause problems in other remote organs. No disease can be treated in isolation without considering its effects on other potential diseases.
Source: Healthy Gums and a Healthy Body - The Mouth and Body Connection
Previous Posts:
Get Sparkling White Teeth With Zoom Teeth Whitening
Bright & Healthy Teeth Gives You A Perfect Smile
Get A Perfect Bright Smile With Teeth Whitening
Latest Cosmetic Surgery in Glasgow
Glasgow Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments
No comments:
Post a Comment