The link between oral health and body health

Oral Health: The Gateway to Enhanced Overall Wellness 

An estimated 75% of American adults currently have some degree of periodontal (gum) disease and poor oral health care, but few realize its linkage to their general health.

Maintaining oral health care is essential not just for a beautiful smile but also for overall wellness. Regardless of what you may have heard, it is not “OK” to have occasional bleeding, swelling or tenderness of the gums. One reason people think these symptoms are “normal” is because so many people experience them to one degree or another. The truth is healthy gum tissue is pink, fits snuggly around the teeth, doesn’t bleed or swell, doesn’t give off any foul odor, and doesn’t feel tender to the touch.

As part of aging, a number of factors can increase the severity of gum disease, including:

• Bad diet
• Poor oral hygiene
• Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer
• Environmental factors such as stress and smoking
• Certain medications that can influence gum condition

If you suffer from any of these symptoms—even if only occasionally—you may have gum disease.

The technical name for this condition is “periodontal” disease, a name meaning “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the soft and hard structures that support the teeth.  The early signs of gum disease in its early stage is called gingivitis, where the gums become swollen and red due to inflammation, which is the body’s natural response to the presence of harmful bacteria.

The Hidden Dangers of Poor Oral Health Care on Body Health

When left unchecked, gum disease symptoms creates pockets of space around teeth that become breeding grounds for infection. If untreated, this infection can begin eating away at the underlying bone that anchors the teeth, resulting in loose or shifting teeth, and eventually tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults—not decay, as many suppose. But worse yet, people with gum disease may be twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease and stroke.

Of all the women who die each year, one in four will die of heart disease. Women with periodontal (gum) disease are twice as likely to have heart disease, a heart attack, or stroke. One culprit responsible for this increased risk is bacteria in the mouth. High concentrations can make you more likely to develop calcification of the carotid artery, leading to stroke.

For diabetics, early signs of gum disease symptoms can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, making their diabetes more difficult to control and increasing their likelihood of suffering dangerous complications.

According to the American Dental Association, periodontal disease is the most common dental disease affecting those living with diabetes, affecting nearly 22% of those diagnosed. The main reason diabetic patients have a higher risk for gum problems is because of poor blood sugar control. As with all infections, serious early signs of gum disease symptoms could cause blood sugar to rise. This makes diabetes harder to control because you are more susceptible to infections and are less able to fight the bacteria invading the gums.

Pregnant women may be up to seven times more likely to deliver premature or underweight babies.

The American Academy of Periodontology has reported that women with periodontal disease during pregnancy are seven times more likely to have a preterm, low birth weight baby. They suggest that this staggering increase in risk may be linked to the chemical prostaglandin which is produced by the bacteria in mouths of mothers with periodontal disease. Unchecked, this chemical may induce labor.

People with gum disease may be twice as likely to develop certain forms of cancer, including head, neck and pancreatic cancers.

The American Academy of Periodontology has reported that women with periodontal disease during pregnancy are seven times more likely to have a preterm, low birth weight baby. They suggest that this staggering increase in risk may be linked to the chemical prostaglandin which is produced by the bacteria in mouths of mothers with periodontal disease. Unchecked, this chemical may induce labor.

There is even an association between early signs of gum disease symptoms and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alzheimer’s further emphasizing the relationship between oral health care and overall health.

Here’s the scary truth—people with early signs of gum disease symptoms are at significantly higher risk for many serious medical conditions. But many don’t even realize that they have it. Maybe their symptoms are still very mild. Or maybe they’ve dismissed their symptoms as “normal,” like so many have.

The good news is there are affordable, comfortable ways to manage the early signs of gum disease and protect against its harmful effects. When you recognize the early signs of gum disease symptoms, the sooner your dental provider can help you with gum disease treatment to protect both your oral health and your overall health and welfare. So don’t delay. Call your dentist today to schedule an evaluation.