Periodontal disease occurs where infections occur within the structure of your teeth and gums. When gums become red or swollen, this is a sure sign that your oral health is in danger from periodontal disease and it can impact for years to come. Not only does it impact your oral health, but it can also impact your overall health as the infection continues to spread around your body, not just gums and teeth.
Aging has usually been the significant factor of periodontal disease. Today, we know that just ageing itself doesn’t put you at risk. There are many other factors that increase the risk.
- Smoking and Tobacco Use
- Susceptibility through genetics
- Stress
- Teeth Grinding
- Poor Nutrition and Obesity
If these factors are regular along with poor oral hygiene, you’re opening the opportunity for the following unexpected health dangers of periodontal disease.
The Health Dangers
- Diabetes – Due to volatile blood sugar levels, this can make it difficult for your body to fight off any infections. As a diabetes patient, the added ability to control sugar levels can make it difficult to limit the spread of the disease.
- Tooth Loss – There is a strong correlation between periodontal disease and tooth loss. The infection begins to damage the soft tissue and subsequently destroys the underlying bone that holds teeth in place. Teeth will become to loosen or fall out completely if not treated.
- Cardiovascular and Heart Disease – Periodontal disease increases the inflammation level through the body. When bacteria enter the bloodstream, the increase in inflammation can lead to heart disease. The bacteria increase when brushing teeth and the blood vessels become impacted. This leads to clot formation. When a clot forms, this decreases blood flow, increasing blood pressure and leading to a heart attack.
- Stroke – Those who suffer from periodontal disease are more likely to have a stroke. Periodontal disease narrows the arteries and reduces the blood flow supply to the brain. This can potentially lead to a stroke.
- Cancer – Those patients that are at high risk of periodontal disease likely to experience lung and pancreatic cancer. Along with poor care of your oral health, smoking, low level of physical activity, poor eating habits, diabetes and high consumption of alcohol can all contribute to cancer cells forming with periodontal disease.
What Are The Signs of Periodontal Disease?
If you’re experiencing any of the following warning signs, this means you’re at risk of periodontal disease.
- Tender or bleeding around the gums
- Bad breath or an abnormal taste in the mouth
- Sensitivity when chewing on foods
- A changing alignment structure of teeth when biting
The last thing that anybody wants to experience is tooth loss. When this happens, it can become difficult to restore oral health naturally. Cosmetic treatments such as dentures or implants are artificial solutions that may be considered to restore your full set of teeth.
Preventing is the best form of medication for periodontal disease. Read here to learn how to prevent periodontal disease.
If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of periodontal disease, contact our dental team at Lotus Dental today for an appointment.