The True Benefits of Regular Toothbrushing: 6 Ways Gum Disease Can Cause Health Issues
Don’t just think about your teeth while considering the benefits of avoiding gum disease. Periodontitis, or gum disease, can be a precursor to systemic health issues that affect more than just your mouth. It turns out that the condition of your gums indicates your overall health. Gum disease now affects millions of people in the United States.
Gums become swollen, inflamed, and painful. Early diagnosis and treatment of gum disease allow for a full recovery. In addition to the standard dental care of twice-daily brushing and flossing, regular use of mouthwash, and biannual dental checkups, gum disease can be prevented with a little effort.
If this illness affects health in general, how exactly does it do so? Numerous studies published on StudyFinds have established connections between gum disease and other serious health issues, including cardiovascular troubles, high blood pressure, and psychological problems.
If you want to know how your gums are doing and what you can do to avoid periodontitis, you should see your professional dentist at team emergency dental periodically.
What Makes Gums So Unique?
In terms of oral hygiene, it’s not only about how white and straight your teeth are. The gums are an essential part of your oral health. Gum disease may affect anybody, including those with the healthiest teeth and no history of cavities. Most people don’t realize they have a problem with their gums since gum disease is painless.
What Is Gum Disease?
Plaque accumulation at and below the gum line is the primary cause of gum disease. Bacteria thrive in the sticky coating that makes up plaque. Damage to the gums and jawbone from infection can result in periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, can also be brought on by plaque buildup. Inflammation from gingivitis leads to gums that are
- inflamed
- tender
- red
- swollen
- bleeding-prone
This damage can be fixed, though, because it doesn’t affect the bone and tissue anchoring the teeth. The more severe type of gum disease, known as periodontitis, is also possible. Bones supporting your teeth might be damaged by periodontitis. It can lead to severe problems with your gums, jawbone, and supporting tissues surrounding your teeth if not addressed.
The most severe form of gum disease is called advanced periodontitis. The tissues and bones that hold your teeth in place deteriorate. There may be an effect on your bite that necessitates the removal of teeth.
6 Ways Gum Disease Can Cause Health Issues
- Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Increases
Recent research has added gum disease to the known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. As periodontitis progressed, the correlation became more robust.
We hypothesize that persons with gum disease may be more susceptible to bacterial bloodstream transmission because of the damage to their periodontal tissues. As a result, this may hasten the development of vascular injury and amplify vascular-damaging systemic inflammation.
The study found that compared to those with healthy gums, those with gum disease had a 49% increased risk of cardiovascular issues.
- Depression, Anxiety, And Autoimmune Disease
According to research, a lack of proper dental care has been linked to mental illness. A study by researchers at the University of Birmingham found that the onset of gum disease was associated with an increased chance of acquiring depressive and anxious disorders in the years to come.
Research shows that a history of gum disease considerably increases a person’s risk of developing autoimmune illnesses, heart disease, and even metabolic disorders like diabetes, in addition to its association with mental health issues. For this study, researchers analyzed the medical records of about 64,000.
This includes gum diseases known as gingivitis and periodontitis, which cause bleeding gums and, if left untreated, can damage the jawbone. Gingivitis was present in 60,995 subjects, and periodontitis affected 3,384 of them.
- Gum Disease 9x Increases COVID-19 Risk
Due to airborne particles, patients have been understandably reluctant to visit their dentists during COVID-19. However, a cleaning might be life-saving for those with problems with their gums. According to a new study, patients with gum disease who get COVID-19 have a terrifying nine-fold increased risk of mortality.
The presence of periodontitis increases the likelihood that a patient with COVID would require intensive care or a ventilator by a factor of three, according to research by an international team. Periodontitis affects around half of the world’s adult population. Inflamed and bleeding gums are classic symptoms of gum disease.
Lack of treatment allows inflammation to develop, perhaps to infect the lungs. Scientists believe that patients on ventilators are at a higher risk of contracting coronaviruses because they are more prone to breathe in oral germs.
- From Gums To Intestines: Periodontitis Aggravates IBD
About three million people in the United States suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Stomach discomfort, especially if it persists over a long period, may result from an imbalance in the gut microbiota. According to a recent study, digestive issues may originate in the mouth.
According to University of Michigan researchers, poor oral hygiene can exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study identified two pathways via which bacteria from a patient’s mouth may reach the gastrointestinal tract and exacerbate inflammation there.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by an excess of microorganisms from other places in the body, according to researcher Nobuhiko Kamada. According to Kamada, the origin of this bacterium is often the mouth. Experts agree that gum disease leads to an unfavorable shift in the mouth’s microbiome.
- A Solid Tie for High Blood Pressure
Can swollen, bleeding gums cause high blood pressure? It seems to be more than you may think. According to the study’s authors, gum disease patients have an increased risk of hypertension.
Thirty percent to forty-five percent of the world’s population has hypertension, making it the most significant cause of global mortality. Similarly, more than half of all people have inflammation in the gums, connective tissue, and bones that hold their teeth in place.
- The Use of a Medicated Mouthwash
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), over-the-counter therapeutic mouthwashes have several uses. Additionally, a rinse can aid in the removal of food residue and particles, while it shouldn’t replace flossing or brushing. If it has the ADA mark of approval, you know it meets the organization’s standards for use and safety.
