Gum Disease & Its Effect on Overall Health

March 28, 2021, 6:42 am

Generally called periodontitis, gum disease begins when there is bacterial growth in the mouth. If not properly treated, it can lead to tooth loss, tissue damage, and bone degeneration that calls for surgery and dental implants.

Furthermore, when it reaches an advanced level, it can pose serious health risks to the patients as well. Continue reading to know more about this gum disease and its effects on overall health. 

Gum Disease – Stages

This is how gum diseases aggravate. There are two main stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis

It is the earliest stage of gum disease. The gums become red and inflamed that also bleeds easily. You can treat gingivitis easily by following a strict oral hygiene regimen such as brushing twice a day daily and flossing. Also, visiting your dental clinic regularly can also help in early diagnosis and treatment. Even though gingivitis is reversible, it needs to be identified in the early stage.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a more serious stage of gum disease that seriously impacts the teeth supporting structure and gums. In periodontitis, pockets are formed between the teeth as gums begin to pull away from them. Both the bone and ligament that support the teeth begin to wear down over time. As a result, the tooth becomes loose in its socket.

If the patient doesn’t get treated for periodontitis, there won’t be any other option but tooth removal. 

Gum Disease – Causes

Gums are attached to our teeth at a lower point; deeper than the edges that we see. This forms a space called the sulcus. Food particles and even plaque get trapped in this space that causes a gum infection or gingivitis. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth’ surface. As it advances, it hardens and eventually becomes tartar. When it goes below the gum line, you are at risk of getting an infection.

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to tooth loss as gums separate from the teeth. This also injures the teeth supporting bone and soft tissue. The tooth becomes loose. And if the infection exceeds, you would eventually have to get your tooth removed and opt for a dental implant instead.

Gum Disease – Treatment

Gum disease treatment aims to reattach healthy gums to teeth. Also, it focuses on reducing the risk of infection, the depth of pockets, and swelling to prevent the infection from spreading. Treatment options available for gum disease depend on how far the disease has progressed along with the treatment you opted for earlier and its results. Your overall health is an important factor as well.

Here are some of the treatment methods:

Medicines

There are some antimicrobial medications and antibiotics that help in reducing the size of gum pockets. They are available in the form of gels, mouth rinse, pills, and tiny round particles that are placed in the pocket.

Root Planing and Scaling

The dentist removes the infection-causing plaque using a method called scaling and root planing. Basically, it’s a deep cleaning method that helps in removing bacteria present around the tooth root and gum line.

Surgery

In case both medication and deep cleaning fail to restore gum health, surgery is the next step that can help. There are two types of surgery. One is flap surgery that lifts away the gum tissue allowing the dentist to clean underneath it. Later on, the tissue is sutured back. The second option is gum or bone graft surgery that helps in grafting tissue or bone from another part of the mouth to the damaged area of your jaw or gum.

Gum Disease – Health Risks

According to researchers, there are potential links between gum disease and other serious health conditions. Those with healthy immune systems can fight the bacteria that make way from the mouth to their bloodstream. However, under certain circumstances, the bacteria can lead to various health problems, including:

Heart Disease

Various studies have revealed that those with gum disease are more at risk of getting a heart attack. A 2009 paper published on the relation between heart and gum disease recommended cardiologists inquire of their patients about the onset of gum disease along with a family history of heart health.

Dementia

Studies have found gum disease to increase the risk of dementia in later years. Periodontal problems are also linked with a milder cognitive impairment like memory issues that impact life quality. In a survey, those with advanced gum diseases scored the worst on calculations and memory tests.

Premature Birth

Although results acquired from studies are conflicting regarding this, some studies have shown that women with gum disease are more likely to have a premature birth that puts the newborn at serious health risks. Some studies are still ongoing. In another research, treating periodontal diseases in pregnant women helped in carrying their child to term.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disease that leads to painful joints and inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis is likely to surface in people with periodontal disease. Also, they have more missing teeth compared with people who did not have rheumatoid arthritis. As per a study, people with a severe form of RA had less swelling, pain, and morning stiffness after getting treatment for their gum disease.

In most cases, periodontal disease can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene. It is imperative to brush twice a day for two minutes to keep plaque under control. Flossing daily is important as well to clean spaces between teeth. Using an antimicrobial mouthwash helps in reducing bacteria in the mouth.

In case of timely diagnosis, gum disease is easily manageable. Letting it progress leads to loss of bone support, making it difficult to treat leaving one with no option but tooth extraction and getting a dental implant from a renowned dental clinic instead.

Related Info

Dental Implants in Dubai

Gum Disease & Its Effect on Overall Health

March 28, 2021, 6:42 am

Generally called periodontitis, gum disease begins when there is bacterial growth in the mouth. If not properly treated, it can lead to tooth loss, tissue damage, and bone degeneration that calls for surgery and dental implants.

Furthermore, when it reaches an advanced level, it can pose serious health risks to the patients as well. Continue reading to know more about this gum disease and its effects on overall health. 

Gum Disease – Stages

This is how gum diseases aggravate. There are two main stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis

It is the earliest stage of gum disease. The gums become red and inflamed that also bleeds easily. You can treat gingivitis easily by following a strict oral hygiene regimen such as brushing twice a day daily and flossing. Also, visiting your dental clinic regularly can also help in early diagnosis and treatment. Even though gingivitis is reversible, it needs to be identified in the early stage.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a more serious stage of gum disease that seriously impacts the teeth supporting structure and gums. In periodontitis, pockets are formed between the teeth as gums begin to pull away from them. Both the bone and ligament that support the teeth begin to wear down over time. As a result, the tooth becomes loose in its socket.

If the patient doesn’t get treated for periodontitis, there won’t be any other option but tooth removal. 

Gum Disease – Causes

Gums are attached to our teeth at a lower point; deeper than the edges that we see. This forms a space called the sulcus. Food particles and even plaque get trapped in this space that causes a gum infection or gingivitis. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth’ surface. As it advances, it hardens and eventually becomes tartar. When it goes below the gum line, you are at risk of getting an infection.

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to tooth loss as gums separate from the teeth. This also injures the teeth supporting bone and soft tissue. The tooth becomes loose. And if the infection exceeds, you would eventually have to get your tooth removed and opt for a dental implant instead.

Gum Disease – Treatment

Gum disease treatment aims to reattach healthy gums to teeth. Also, it focuses on reducing the risk of infection, the depth of pockets, and swelling to prevent the infection from spreading. Treatment options available for gum disease depend on how far the disease has progressed along with the treatment you opted for earlier and its results. Your overall health is an important factor as well.

Here are some of the treatment methods:

Medicines

There are some antimicrobial medications and antibiotics that help in reducing the size of gum pockets. They are available in the form of gels, mouth rinse, pills, and tiny round particles that are placed in the pocket.

Root Planing and Scaling

The dentist removes the infection-causing plaque using a method called scaling and root planing. Basically, it’s a deep cleaning method that helps in removing bacteria present around the tooth root and gum line.

Surgery

In case both medication and deep cleaning fail to restore gum health, surgery is the next step that can help. There are two types of surgery. One is flap surgery that lifts away the gum tissue allowing the dentist to clean underneath it. Later on, the tissue is sutured back. The second option is gum or bone graft surgery that helps in grafting tissue or bone from another part of the mouth to the damaged area of your jaw or gum.

Gum Disease – Health Risks

According to researchers, there are potential links between gum disease and other serious health conditions. Those with healthy immune systems can fight the bacteria that make way from the mouth to their bloodstream. However, under certain circumstances, the bacteria can lead to various health problems, including:

Heart Disease

Various studies have revealed that those with gum disease are more at risk of getting a heart attack. A 2009 paper published on the relation between heart and gum disease recommended cardiologists inquire of their patients about the onset of gum disease along with a family history of heart health.

Dementia

Studies have found gum disease to increase the risk of dementia in later years. Periodontal problems are also linked with a milder cognitive impairment like memory issues that impact life quality. In a survey, those with advanced gum diseases scored the worst on calculations and memory tests.

Premature Birth

Although results acquired from studies are conflicting regarding this, some studies have shown that women with gum disease are more likely to have a premature birth that puts the newborn at serious health risks. Some studies are still ongoing. In another research, treating periodontal diseases in pregnant women helped in carrying their child to term.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disease that leads to painful joints and inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis is likely to surface in people with periodontal disease. Also, they have more missing teeth compared with people who did not have rheumatoid arthritis. As per a study, people with a severe form of RA had less swelling, pain, and morning stiffness after getting treatment for their gum disease.

In most cases, periodontal disease can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene. It is imperative to brush twice a day for two minutes to keep plaque under control. Flossing daily is important as well to clean spaces between teeth. Using an antimicrobial mouthwash helps in reducing bacteria in the mouth.

In case of timely diagnosis, gum disease is easily manageable. Letting it progress leads to loss of bone support, making it difficult to treat leaving one with no option but tooth extraction and getting a dental implant from a renowned dental clinic instead.

Related Info

Dental Implants in Dubai

About the author

Dr.Petros

D.M.D summa cum laude
Cert.Prosthodontics(TUFTS ,U.S.A)

Dr. Petros is co-director of the Branemark Osseointegration Center Dubai. He qualified as a dentist in 1995, receiving his dental degree summa cum laude from Semmelweis University in Budapest. He graduated at the top of his class and was also chosen as valedictorian. In 1998 he completed the three-year, full-time postgraduate specialist prosthodontist training at Tufts University in Boston, United States, where he was awarded the Postgraduate Prosthodontist Certificate. Since 1999 Dr.Petros has been working in private practice as a specialist prosthodontist, almost exclusively on the prosthodontic rehabilitation of dental implants. He lectures extensively on same day implants and teeth reconstruction protocols. Together with Dr. Costa(Cert. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), Dr. Petros is the cofounder of SameDay Dental Implants Clinic located in Building 39 in Dubai Healthcare City in the United Arab Emirates.

About the author

Dr.Petros

D.M.D summa cum laude
Cert.Prosthodontics(TUFTS ,U.S.A)

Dr. Petros is co-director of the Branemark Osseointegration Center Dubai. He qualified as a dentist in 1995, receiving his dental degree summa cum laude from Semmelweis University in Budapest. He graduated at the top of his class and was also chosen as valedictorian. In 1998 he completed the three-year, full-time postgraduate specialist prosthodontist training at Tufts University in Boston, United States, where he was awarded the Postgraduate Prosthodontist Certificate. Since 1999 Dr.Petros has been working in private practice as a specialist prosthodontist, almost exclusively on the prosthodontic rehabilitation of dental implants. He lectures extensively on same day implants and teeth reconstruction protocols. Together with Dr. Costa(Cert. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), Dr. Petros is the cofounder of SameDay Dental Implants Clinic located in Building 39 in Dubai Healthcare City in the United Arab Emirates.

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Have a Question? Call us Now

+971 4 3158 300

Need Help? Drop us an Email

inquiry@samedayme.com

Visiting Hours:

Saturday to Thursday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location

Villa 733, Jumeirah Rd, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai, U.A.E.