The Link Between Periodontal Maintenance and Overall Health
Periodontal maintenance is a crucial aspect of dental care. Gum disease prevention is not only important for optimal oral health but also for the body’s systemic health.
You may think that gum health only relates to overall oral hygiene. Oral hygiene relates to many facets of overall health. There are certain times in life when periodontal maintenance becomes very crucial. Gum disease wreaks havoc on cardiovascular health, neurological health, overall bodily hygiene, and presentation. Periodontal maintenance aims to establish a healthy oral environment by disrupting the plaque biofilm along the gum line. These biofilms are bacterial colonies that lodge in the space between the gums and teeth. Due to improper dental hygiene, these colonies form plaque that irritates the gum line and causes inflammation. This inflammation causes further issues. Let’s discuss the causes of gum diseases and the importance of periodontal maintenance for overall health.
Reasons for Gum Disease Progression
Plaque deposition above and below the gum line is a normal phenomenon. It can be countered with proper oral hygiene maintenance. However, gum diseases progress faster than usual in some health conditions and require frequent and professional periodontal maintenance. These conditions are:
1. Improper Oral Hygiene
Improper oral hygiene is a primary cause of periodontitis, gingivitis, and other forms of gum disease. In the absence of proper cleaning and hygiene, bacterial colonies grow at an alarming rate. This leads to swollen gums and increased inflammation. If left unchecked, it can lead to severe inflammation, bleeding gums, and ultimately tooth loss. So it is always advisable to schedule appointments with dentists for periodontal cleaning.
2. Gum Disease in Immuno-Compromised Patients
HIV-positive and AIDS patients need to emphasize oral health and the prevention of plaque buildup. Due to low immunity, uncontrolled bacterial growth leads to faster plaque buildup. In these patients, the inflammation and infection can rapidly spread to other parts of the body, increasing the chances of multiple organ failure and even death. To avoid these severe conditions, you must always consider reaching out to your dentist.
3. Pregnancy and Gum Diseases
Around 60-75% of pregnant women suffer from gum diseases. Due to hormonal changes, the chances of gum diseases increase during pregnancy. Researchers have yet to establish the exact route of this correlation between gum disease and pregnancy. However, one can’t deny the fact that pregnant ladies are at a high risk for periodontal diseases.
Read More: How Oral Health Influences Pregnancy Wellness?
The Signs That You Should Visit Your Periodontist
Early detection and treatment of gum disease are crucial for preventing further damage to the gums and teeth and maintaining optimal oral health. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices are key to preventing gum disease and preserving your smile. However, certain evident signs and symptoms indicate the presence of gum diseases. These are:
Chronic Bad breath
Receding Gums
Changes in Tooth Alignment
Pus between teeth and gums
Changes in the fit of dentures
Bleeding gums
Gums that injure easily and bleed
Loosening of tooth
Redness of gums
Tenderness of gums to touch
Increased gum sensitivity
Pay your periodontist a visit in case two or more of these symptoms are present. Also, have regular checkups if you fall in the high-risk category. You must choose your dental clinic wisely, the one which has access to the latest technology tools and equipment and also have some skilled dentists. We recommend selecting All Smiles Dentistry as it is one of the best dental clinics in Allen.
Health Risks Due to Gum Diseases
Gum diseases can adversely affect cardiovascular health, neurological health, digestive health, and mental health.
Effects on Cardiovascular Health
Researchers point toward a link between inflammation due to gum disease and heart attacks, strokes, and sudden vascular anomalies. Even though the exact nature of this correlation is unclear, researchers believe that the bacteria responsible for plaque formation in gums is also linked to plaque formation in blood vessels. This claim gets a boost from the uncovering of oral bacteria in the fatty deposits of people diagnosed with atherosclerosis. Therefore, researchers believe that the bacteria present in gum disease can travel throughout the body and can trigger inflammatory responses in the blood vessels in the form of plaque deposition.
People with heart-valve disease are at high risk in the co-presence of gum diseases. Bacteria in gum disease can travel through the bloodstream and blood vessels, can infect the vulnerable heart valves. It can lead to heart failure, heart attack, myocardial hypertrophy, and other serious cardiovascular events. Therefore, people with gum diseases have twice or thrice times the risk of having cardiovascular diseases than people without gum diseases.
Effects on Neurological Health
Due to plaque deposition in blood vessels, the arteries supplying the brain can get blocked which may lead to stroke, infarction, etc. Neurological health is connected to cardiovascular health. When cardiovascular health gets compromised due to gum diseases, neurological health also gets adversely affected. People with gum diseases have a higher risk of stroke and tissue death. When the blood flow to vital organs is compromised, neurological disorders will manifest along with other systemic disorders.
Effects on Digestive Health
Gum diseases also hurt digestive health. Gum inflammation triggers an overall inflammatory response in the body, which hampers gut health. This widespread systemic inflammation and inflammatory response leads to inflammatory gut diseases such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. These digestive disorders decline the overall quality of life. The patient makes certain dietary changes and sometimes undergoes lifelong medication to combat these digestive disorders. These disorders further lead to serious digestive tract diseases such as intestinal cancer. Therefore, the effect of gum diseases on the digestive tract should not be taken lightly.
Effects on Oral & Mental Health
The symptoms of gum disease are itself a source of constant worry and embarrassment. Chronic bad breath makes the patient a potential social outcast. One becomes severely conscious and often embarrassed. Bleeding and swollen gums along with pain and discomfort make mastication difficult, leading to trouble eating. In some cases, the patient may need emergency tooth pain relief. The patient is not able to enjoy food or drinks. Increased gum sensitivity to gum line recession also causes discomfort in enjoying hot or cold foods. All these factors cause a lack of peace of mind. People with gum disease face difficulty in socializing with peers. Losing or loss of teeth is another source of mental agony.
Conclusion:
Periodontal maintenance is a crucial aspect of dental care. Gum disease prevention is not only important for optimal oral health but also for the body’s systemic health. With regular dental checkups and symptom monitoring, gum diseases can be prevented or cured. Talk to your periodontist regarding the steps you can take to prevent gum disease. If you’re already suffering from gum disease symptoms or at high risk for gum disease, ask your dentist to chart a treatment and maintenance plan that best addresses your particular concerns.