It’s a common misconception by many that gum disease is just
in the mouth. In fact, it can actually cause a lot of other issues in the body,
and many times, people don’t realize just how hard it is, and it can definitely
be quite a problem. This article will go over what it is, and how it affects
more than just the health of the mouth.
Now, what causes gum disease is actually two things, and you
can talk to your Eugene dentist further about this. One of the things is the
presence of bacteria in the mouth, and the other is the places that the
bacteria will get to and stay at. Often, the bacteria will collect and buildup
either at or below the gumline. This buildup often causes inflammation and
irritation, which will cause an immune system response to the body. Often, the
mildest form is called gingivitis, but left untreated causes periodontal
pockets in the areas where the bacteria collect. Gingivitis leads to
periodontitis when left untreated, and this can actually break down the
connection between the gums and teeth, which will cause them to fall out.
Often, people in the early stages might not have a bunch of
pain, but instead they’ll have other symptoms, such as bad breath, swollen and
red gums that bleed a lot, pain when chewing, teeth that are loose and
sensitive, and longer-appearing teeth.
However, this doesn’t affect just the mouth, but it impacts
other major body systems, and if there are already health issues, it can make
it far worse than you might expect.
In the respiratory system, it can actually cause some
problems. There is a relationship between this and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorder and acute bronchitis. If your body is fighting off
inflammation, it can actually cause problems such as this in the body.
Heart disease and stroke are another major problem
associated with gum disease. Research actually associated gum disease with
this, and tying that with both stroke, age, genetics, habits, and the presence
of diabetes, it increases the risk. There is more research that is being done
to help focus on the connection between these, and you’ll be able to see that
chronic inflammation and bacteria can be found in this, and it can even cause
certain kinds of heart diseases.
Finally, one big part that does affect some people is the
fact that fertility and pregnancy can be compromised. Women who have active gum
disease take 2-3 months longer to conceive than those who don’t. fertility
clinics often require women that are trying to conceive using IVF to either not
have or treat the disease that they have, since often it can lead to them
struggling with conceiving and holding a child period.
Another big part is in pregnant women in general. 40% of
women who are pregnant have some form of gum disease. Often, they can see the
dentist on this, and it typically does go away on its own. However, if a woman
already has gum disease and isn’t being treated, they are likely to deliver
premature, and often, they have a low birth weight as well. Pregnancy is a time
that does affect many parts of the body, and often, if there are already other
issues there, it’s important to treat gum disease before it gets any harder for
the person conceiving as well.
Gum disease is a bit of a serious issue, and if left untreated, it can even hurt your personal health. However, it’s important to make sure that you do take the time to ensure that you have the best health possible. You can certainly do this by seeing your Eugene dentist to make sure that your oral health is up to snuff, and if it isn’t, they’ll be able to help you get the most out of this as well. They can help you get on the right pathway to the best health possible, and by taking care of it now, you’ll be a lot happier in the future. Do watch out for gum disease, because while it might seem like a small condition, it’s actually a serious issue.
