Gum Disease and You

Taking above average care of yourself in every way is extremely important and should be high on every person’s priority list. Yet another reason to eat right, get plenty of rest, exercise frequently and practice good hygiene is because it can affect what is happening in your mouth at any given time.

In July of 1998, the American Academy of Periodontology did a series of studies that pointed to something they had long suspected – that infections that develop in the mouth can cause problems in other parts of the body.

Since that date, more and more evidence has come along to support these findings. While studies are ongoing, medical professionals have been letting the public know that individuals who develop periodontal disease are much more likely to develop a host of other health problems than are those who never develop the oral disease. These health conditions include heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and preterm births. Periodontal disease is a type of bacterial infection and is therefore just as much of a concern as is a bacterial infection that occurs in other parts of the body.

Bacteria from periodontal disease can get into the bloodstream and then make its way to any of the major organs such as the liver, pancreas and kidneys and from there can develop into new kinds of infections. Researchers are theorizing that this could increase the risk of a person having a stroke and could also contribute to the start of heart disease, which happens to be the number one killer in the United States.

This could also pose a very grave danger to individuals who suffer from diabetes, osteoporosis and any number of respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis. This can also increase a pregnant woman’s chances of giving birth, preterm, to a baby that is very low in weight.

So taking care of yourself and caring about your health, in general, need to include paying attention to your teeth and gums and indeed your mouth, in general.

Be aware that sometimes periodontal disease can only be detected by way of a dental exam. A periodontal exam is particularly important, if you can identify any symptoms of the oral disease and also if you are a woman who is contemplating getting pregnant.

If you have a family member that has periodontal disease, then you are more inclined to develop it. Gum disease has been shown to have a genetic link and therefore you should visit your dentist as frequently as possible. Anyone who has such diseases as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis or respiratory disease should go to their dentist for regular exams and cleanings. Never neglect your oral health.

By the way, research into the specifics of periodontal disease has put forth the theory that bacteria that results from periodontal disease can easily travel by way of saliva. What this means is, that contact between people such as kissing, sharing straws or utensils can pass infected saliva from one individual to another. So taking care of your oral health can also help protect others…

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Dr. Harold Katz: Gum Disease: How to Avoid Being Another Statistic

Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease and is difficult to treat. While there may be a new treatment for periodontitis on the horizon, the best thing you can do is to not let the disease get to this stage.

Publish Date: 01/20/2011 5:49

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-harold-katz/gum-disease_b_808068.html

Periodontal Disease & Treatment

This video describes Periodontal Disease (also known as periodontitis or gum disease) and the treatments used by dental professionals.

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