How does periodontitis affect your overall health?
A lot of people suffer from periodontal disease, and over the past decade, there is actually more evidence that’s shown a link between periodontal disease, the bacteria that are with it, and other systemic diseases that tag along with it. This can affect other parts of your body, such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and even low birth weight babies that are pr-term.
Thee’s also the fact that it causes inflammation within the body, and also creates an inflammatory response.
However, it is important to understand the gingival inflammation and symptoms of periodontitis are actually not signs that someone has a systemic condition. There are other factors that contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and the like, but here, we’ll go over the implications of these conditions.
The Implications themselves
Currently, while the studies are still ongoing, there is an oral-systemic connection that has from this proven conclusive to the point that both dental and medical insurance companies are taking notice, and are providing better periodontal coverage to the people that come in for this type of cleaning and the like too.
Family History and Periodontitis
While the American Academy of periodontology says that about 30% of the population might be predisposed to this, there are actually different genes that play a role in the susceptibility of the individual, based on the race of a person, and their ethnic background.
That means that despite the hygiene habits being consistent those individuals that suffer from this are six times more likely to have gum disease, even if they try everything. Using a genetic test to identify this is how you can figure out whether you need to get treatment for this early on, or if you need early intervention from dentists. You can’t help your genes, so the dentists and periodontists will help as they can.
It is also important to understand that some health insurance companies will give not just dental coverage, but also monitor those with complex problems in their body t make sure that they’re getting the routine dental care they need, as of course part of their regimen for healthcare. Studies have shown that those that suffer from different conditions including diabetes, coronary artery disease, and also cerebrovascular disease, or even strokes will receive periodontal treatments very early on, and the assisted medical costs are thus reduced since they need this early on.
But it’s more than just that. Dentist sare becoming aware of the impact that periodontal disease has on overall health, and while they are reinforcing the proactivity of this, and the importance of proper oral care during each appointment, they will talk with their patients and help them set up the proper oral health treatments that they need.
Oral health problems that are found during dental examinations are thus explained much more clearly, along with the associations that might happen to the body and health in the long term, to help those who have been hesitant about brushing twice daily to do so.
The Oral-Systemic Associations
There is a link between oral disease and systemic conditions, and this is the idea that the periodontal bacteria will enter the bloodstream, go to other parts of the body, and from there initiate these new infections, trigger an inflammatory response, or even exacerbate it. When you do look at this, you should understand that an infection in the mouth is also a bodily infection, and thus, this can spread. As a result of the infection, the body will then produce the proteins that circulate within the blood, and these are known as the C-reactive proteins. The proteins then cause irritations within the blood vessel walls, and this can lead to them narrowing, which in turn will put you at risk for heart attacks, or a stroke.
There are certain systemic medical conditions that come about as a result of oral bacteria, and these include a variety of different things below, we’ll talk about the conditions that are at hand, what they can for you, and why they matter.
Atherosclerosis
This is an inflammatory disease, where the periodontal disease and the atherosclerosis co-exist in the same person that’s there. The studies have shown that with gum disease treatment, both the periodontal inflammation and the systemic inflammation thus decrease. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, so periodontal treatment does benefit it, and thus the cardiovascular system. Periodontal treatments have led to better arterial health as well. Just like with cholesterol testing, testing for the CRP is becoming part of blood tests to help look at cancer risk factors and cardiac risk factors.
Adverse pregnancy
The presence of periodontal conditions in those that are pregnant are actually able to link it to preterm births, gestational diabetes, a sudden rise in blood pressure that happens late in pregnancy called preeclampsia, sometimes fetal loss, and even a low birth weight and conditions in babies. However, researchers have found that the reduction n preterm births that happen amongst women that get periodontal treatment are very important. Those pregnant women that have periodontal disease are actually seven times more likely to have a baby that’s born either too early, or too small. So, if you’d like to keep your baby, you should definitely go in to see your periodontist in order to get a full exam.
Pneumonia, Diabetes, and Heart Disease
Periodontal infections can travel into other areas of the body. For example, the neck and chest, and can sometimes lodge within the lungs. The periodontal bacteria and pathogens are oftentimes breathed into the airway of those with severe gum disease, but if you get regular tooth cleanings, you can prevent pneumonia in the body.
Periodontal inflammation is also a complication od diabetes. People with diabetes are actually more prone to infection and other periodontal conditions, meaning that they’ll need to see their dentist more frequently for cleanings that are routine. Having fewer gum infections, along with antibiotics, is something that you should use in order to improve diabetes control.
Finally, you’ve got heart disease, and you may notice that the infections actually cause higher concentrations of pathogens in the blood and a greater risk of coronary heart conditions. What’s more, the use of antibiotics has been used with heart conditions when they get periodontal therapy. Along with that, research has conducted periodontal disease, and the bacteria that are related to heart disease, infective endocarditis, and other heart conditions as well.
When Should you See your Dentist?
You should see your dentists as early as possible. You should try to maintain good hygiene in order to prevent dental disease. When there is a first sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Early intervention is very important, and your dentists are in a position in order to help you manage your oral health, and within the process, ensure that oral bacteria and pathogens don’t’ infiltrate other areas of the body as well.
If you know that you’re at risk for periodontal diseases, such as smoking poor hygiene habits, or even a family history of this, you should definitely see your dentist to help you with this. You should honestly see your dentist as well, and you should make sure you see your dentist
