Gum disease

Gum Disease – new evidence suggests link with heart and respiratory illness.

Patients still ask us if it is a sign of good health when their gums bleed as they brush their teeth. Bleeding, red or inflamed gums are an indication that there is a problem and often is the first sign of gum disease.

Gum disease or periodontitis causes permanent damage not only to gum tissue, but also the bone surrounding the teeth. This is why gum disease can often lead to teeth becoming mobile and potentially falling out. In fact more people lose teeth through gum disease than tooth decay. The infection causes healthy gum tissue to shrink away from teeth and deep pockets can develop around and below the teeth causing further infection to spread to the bone. The resultant damage leads to the loss of the bony and soft tissue support that a tooth needs to remain healthy and firmly attached. The loss of a tooth which may unexpectedly fall out through little or no trauma, teeth becoming mobile or exposed are classic signs of gum disease. Unfortunately gum disease in its early stages can be difficult to spot and may only be diagnosed during a regular examination with your dentist or dental hygienist who will regularly monitor the appearance and condition of your gums and measure the depth of any pockets around the margin between your teeth and the gum.

Good oral health and regular examinations and maintenance by your dentist and dental hygienist will help to prevent gum disease.

New medical evidence suggests that a person suffering from gum disease may be more at risk of cardiovascular disease and have twice the risk of suffering a heart attack. Research is currently underway to try to establish the link between the two, but it looks as though it is possible that periodontal bacteria enters the blood stream through inflamed gums and causes small blood clots that contribute to clogged arteries. Some scientists also believe the inflammation caused by periodontal disease contributes to the build up of fatty deposits inside the heart arteries.

Further evidence points to periodontal disease as a risk to pregnant women. Research has shown that a woman with periodontal disease is up to seven times more likely to have a baby born small or too early. More research is needed to fully understand the link between gum disease and low birth weight, but it is clear that infections of any nature are potentially serious for pregnant women the avoidance of gum disease both before and during pregnancy is the best advice we can give.

Furthermore, some patients suffering from gum disease may be placing themselves at risk of respiratory disease. Smokers and older patients who have health problems are exposed to a greater risk of diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema and pulmonary disease. There is a growing indication that patients with periodontal disease may also be at greater risk of respiratory disease.

What are the risk factors of gum disease?
Three out of four adults will suffer from gum disease and 70% of all adult tooth loss will be caused by gum disease.

Some people inherit a natural tendency to suffer from gum disease and systemic illness including high blood pressure and HIV increase the risk of gum disease due to the reduced ability of the body to fight the irritants that cause gum disease.

For most us the type of foods we eat, what we drink and whether we smoke have a huge impact on the health of our teeth and gums. Bacteria thrives in the mouth of the smoker – the temperature of the mouth is increased by the smoke which also dries the saliva from the mouth, leaving the gums exposed to bacteria which can lead to gum disease. Smoking is thought to contribute to half the cases of periodontal disease among adults in the UK and smokers are four times more likely to suffer from gum disease. Consuming carbonated drinks and eating unhealthy snacks between meals can also contribute to an increased risk in gum disease.

Often the condition is completely preventable and in many cases treatable if the patient follows a basic oral hygiene regime of brushing, rinsing and flossing. Lack of this basic function is a major contributor to the disease.