Unlike most diseases that
give us early warning signs, gum disease progresses silently,
often without pain. It may develop slowly or progress
quite rapidly. more than half of all people over
18 have at least the early stages of periodontal disease. Even
more frightening, after the age of 35, three out of four
people are affected to some degree. Periodontal disease
is an infection that destroys the gum surrounding your
teeth and also destroys the supporting bone that holds
your teeth in place.
What other Health Concerns are Related
to Gum Disease?
Bacteria in plaque have
also been
linked to :
inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels that
is known to lead to constriction in the arteries.
Infective endocarditis, a potentially fatal disease
in which the sac around the heart becomes inflamed.
Lung infections in people with chronic lung diseases
A weakened immune system that can slow wound healing
and diminish a person's response to hepatitis B and flu
vaccines.
A higher risk of delivering premature, low birth weight
infants.
Tooth loss.
Gum Disease May Relate to Heart Attack Risk
Previous
studies have found the incidence of heart disease
is about twice as high in people with periodontal
(gum) disease, but until recently no plausible cause
had been suggested. Now
studies indicate that the most common strain of bacteria
in dental plaque may cause blood clots. When
blood clots escape into the bloodstream, there is
a relation to increased risk of heart attacks and
other heart illnesses.
People with periodontal disease
(over one half the adult population) have an infection
that causes chronic inflammation of the gums. Also,
it is a path for these bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
A recent study describes the association
between heart disease and gum disease to be at least
as strong as the linkage of heart disease to cholesterol,
body weight, or smoking.
