Many people consider dentistry to be just about teeth, keeping them clean, white and free of cavities. Dental problems also include gum disease. You would say sometimes your gums become pink and puffy or probably would say inflamed when you have gum disease. But gum disease can actually be more serious than pink and puffy. First of all, if gum disease which is also called as periodontal disease goes on too long, it can weaken your gums, make them recede and you can lose all your teeth. Yes, loosening teeth sounds more serious than pink and puffy.
Any missing teeth can ruin your bite, make chewing difficult and give you recurrent headaches. But the problem is bigger than teeth. The biggest problem with gum disease is that as you have a disease in your mouth, it is spreading throughout your body every minute. This can have many adverse effects. You should understand that mouth is a gateway to the entire blood supply. The mouth has an amazing number of blood vessels in it. That is why some medicines are placed under the tongue to get absorbed faster into the entire system. Sadly, even though we estimate up to 80% of people are affected by gum disease; most don’t take periodontal disease very seriously. In gum disease, gums become very sensitive and tend to bleed easily. This can attribute to bad breath too. Realize that there is always bacteria in your mouth and food particles from what we eat can settle in areas between the gums and teeth. These particles decay to form infections too. And here is the big one. Because of this bleeding that accompanies gum disease, those bacteria in the mouth are in contact with the blood vessels. That is how it travels through the body. One of the first thing doctors discovered is it can contribute to heart disease. Bacteria entering your blood vessel from your mouth can raise the body’s immune response which can create inflammation in the heart and arteries. If not only can harm the heart it can also affect the valves of the heart which can hinder the blood flow and make the heart work harder which is really not good. This also increases the chance of formation of plaque in the arteries. If plaque lodges in some place that obstructs blood supply to the heart, there is a heart attack. If it obstructs blood flow to the brain, there is a stroke. So start giving gum disease some serious respect! There are many reasons to pay attention.There is also a link between gum disease and diabetes. Gum disease doesn’t because diabetes but it can make it worse. Plus, if someone has diabetes it can make them more likely to get gum disease. So, diabetics should be extra careful about gum disease. It is also known that pregnant women with serious gum disease may be seven times more likely to give birth prematurely. There is also a connection between severe gum disease and increased risks of pancreatic cancer which is the fourth highest cause of cancer deaths in the US.
Most people don’t have an idea that gum disease could be so serious. Bacteria circulating in the blood can also put a strain on the immune system. You might get cold more often or they last longer or it is just that something always seems wrong.Before many surgeons perform transplant or other major operations, they first demand that the patient get a dental clearance from their dentist. Surgeons know if the body is weakened from gum disease it could compromise the surgery. People should take this seriously. But even if gum disease is not so advanced to cause major illnesses, it can still make you sleep poorly or your digestion might be off or your brain may not think as well. You may just feel tired all the time. Someone who is always tired has a harder time with life. They don't get what they want and get depressed. They may even turn to want drugs for depression.
The truth is it can get better with help from your dentist. To avoid gum disease in the first place is to keep up with good brushing and flossing. Make regular visits to your dentist and hygienist so that they can help keep your gums and teeth in good condition. If it is more serious, dentists can still help with deep cleaning like scaling and root planing plus, if you would need gum surgery, dentists now can use lasers which are less painful and heal faster. Dentists always advise patients that their gums are perhaps the most important things to take care of. Not just for your mouth but overall health. People, who have all their teeth well in whole life, absolutely live longer and better. Remember, a regular visit to your dentist not only keeps your teeth healthy but it can prevent major health problems in your body. Don’t forget to schedule your appointment with your dentist soon. And also prevention is pounded better than cure.