How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Health

How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Health
November 14, 2019 Comments Off on How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Health Dental Tips GundaharGreenhand

What begins as a gradual accumulation of bacteria in your mouth area can lead to gum disease. Also called periodontal disease, this condition is typically caused by very poor oral hygiene

However, even those who regularly brush their teeth, floss, and use mouthwash may still develop this condition – not necessarily to a serious threat level but still to some degree. This is especially true when people do not go to their dentist for regular cleanings and routine check-ups.

Unfortunately, in the United States, half of adult Americans aged 30 and above have gum disease – and many of them are not even aware of it.

Professional Dental Treatments and Proper Oral Care

You can manage gum disease with proper oral care and treatments from a dentist. And as you know, if you have even the littlest suspicion that you have gum disease, you absolutely shouldn’t ignore it.

Seek professional dental help right away so you can get the proper treatment. Don’t put your health on the line.

In today’s post, let’s discuss the known health risks that come with gum disease.

Though it may sound implausible, plenty of medical research and scientific evidence have concluded that gum disease is linked to several major health problems. Some of these health issues are heart disease, diabetes, stroke, premature births, and even dementia.

Increased Risk of Heart Disease

People with gum disease left untreated have 75% higher chances of developing cardiovascular issues such as heart disease and stroke. The link between heart disease and periodontal or gum disease is chronic inflammation.

Heart disease and gum disease are linked by chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation adds unnecessary strain on our body’s natural defense capabilities.

In most cases, we may not feel the strain, but our cardio system, particularly the heart, undoubtedly suffers from it. And as you know, gradual chronic inflammation is one of the major causes of heart disease.

While it’s true that there are several factors that lead to heart disease, keeping your gums and mouth healthy should be on your daily to-do list, right along with exercising every day and eating a proper diet.

Increased Risk of Dementia

According to the World Health Organization, there are about 40 million people around the world living with dementia. What’s sadder is it’s expected for that figure to grow at an alarming rate of 120 million by the year 2050.

Medical studies suggest that the growth of dementia worldwide could be minimized by up to 25% by simply taking care of the state of our gums. As we mentioned above, gum disease is caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the mouth – and as you know, we wouldn’t want these toxic bacteria to enter our body.

However, when you do develop gum disease, these toxins try to penetrate the bloodstream, though, you guessed it, our gums. If left untreated and allowed to progress, the toxins may eventually affect your jawbone, which can lead to severe tooth loss.

While there’s no official medical research yet proving that gum disease causes this condition, researchers found a strong link between the two health issues. Doctors have discovered that a significant number of dementia patients have periodontitis bacteria, not just in their gums but also in their brains.

Increased Risk of Diabetes

It’s been proven that unaddressed gum disease significantly up a patient’s blood sugar levels. And as you know, an increased sugar level is the baseline for diabetes to develop.

Unhealthy, sugar food can spike your blood sugar levels.

When you don’t control the levels of your blood sugar, it can develop into type 2 diabetes.

If you are already diabetic and you also develop periodontal disease, you must ensure that you’re keeping your gums and teeth clean and healthy.

Nonetheless, having good oral hygiene is not the main solution to managing diabetes. Similar to heart diseases, there are other precautions you should take to manage this condition. For proper advice, it’s best to seek the help of your doctor.

However, keeping your gums and teeth clean every day, as well as exercising and having a balanced diet, will, without a doubt, lower your chances of developing diabetes.

Key Takeaways

Aside from practicing good oral hygiene, don’t miss your routine dental check-ups. This is a tried-and-tested way to ensure that your gums and mouth are always healthy and that you’re not at risk for contracting gum disease or other oral health-related conditions.

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