Gum Disease and Its More Profound Effects on the Body
Can a simple and common gum disease could trigger other more serious illnesses?
According to more and more evidence found by international researchers, this seems to be the case. Periodontitis, a widespread gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth, have, over the years been linked to a number of life-threatening illnesses. Read about them below:
A lot of people with heart diseases also have periodontitis, but not everyone with the gum disease has cardiovascular ailments. So is there more between the two than common victims? Apparently there is. Studies are leading experts to theorize that prolonged gum inflammation can set off a wheel that ultimately leads to an inflammation in the cardiovascular system. Another angle researchers and doctors are looking at is the possibility of bacteria in the gum reaching the cardiovascular system and causing inflammation. Regardless of cause, it’s worthwhile to note that a growing number of evidences show the relation between the two, so if you’re predisposed to heart ailments, better keep your gum health in check.
Much like with heart diseases, it is not very clear where the link between gum disease and certain types of cancer exists, but experts have reason to believe that the earlier cause a significant increase in risk for the latter. A study published in 2008 concludes a definitive link between tooth loss and cancer in 48,375 men. A more recent one, with 68,000 adult participants, have found more evident link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer.
Some of you might go, “What?” And we understand. Hard to believe the gums can even have profound effects to the brain, but researches are showing a link between periodontitis, tooth loss and cognitive function. One particular study concludes the relation of periodontal disease and caries to the cognitive decline of 597 men who were observed for up to 32 years. Periodontal disease is also associated to the build-up of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is considered a neurological hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
A study released in 2016 directly links chronic periodontitis to erectile dysfunction, so much so that it even suggests physicians to refer patients with sexual dysfunction to oral healthcare providers for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment. There are still a lot of grey areas surrounding the two diseases, but the link between them cannot be ignored.
A very recently-published study, which investigated the records of 1,380 men, have found a very significant relationship between chronic periodontitis and a reduction in respiratory function. Another study also found that people suffering from periodontal disease are at an increased risk for lung cancer. While this comes as to no surprise (after all, the mouth is part of the respiratory system), the association between oral and a number of respiratory problems have never been more evident.
The great new is periodontitis is completely treatable, if not avoidable. Good oral hygiene and staying away from smoking or heavy drinking can definitely reduce risks of getting it, but if you have it already, many duly-licensed oral healthcare professionals, like Dr. Edward Beduya, are more than capable of ridding you of the disease. Contact one to get yourself assessed. You may be saving yourself loads of money and trouble in the future by doing this today.
