Gum Disease and Human Health

             This post is a result of a sad news I heard on twitter in the morning that a middle aged man had a sudden heart attack and he couldn't survive that. 

             Now we all know of the common reasons of why we have BP, Heart problems, Diabetes and we all so much take care of the reasons and feel happy of taking low fat Ice creams, Diet coke, Exercising, Yoga, Meditation and what not. But there's some other major reason which i thought we should all know bout.

             So i decided to shed some light on the relation of Dental problems and in particular Gum Problems with our very common diseases that we so so commonly see now a days.

There's a whole new subject on this now, calling it Periodontal Medicine which deals with the inter relationship of Dental problems with the other chronic disease of the body.

  

Gum Problems and Diabetes

                                         Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

                                          Tooth and gum problems can happen to anyone. A sticky film full of germs, called plaque, builds up on your teeth. High blood glucose helps germs, also called bacteria, grow. Then you can get red, sore, and swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. People with diabetes can have tooth and gum problems more often if their blood glucose stays high. High blood glucose can make tooth and gum problems worse. You can even lose your teeth

                                          Gum Problems have been listed as a Side effect of Diabetes long ago and they are interrelated in both ways. Uncontrolled Diabetes leads to higher rate of gum problems and more gum diseases leads to Uncontrolled Diabetes.

Gum Problems and Heart Disease

                                  Gum disease and heart disease appear to be related, thanks to several extensive studies in the early 2000s which suggested that people with periodontal disease were twice as likely to also have coronary artery disease, along with other heart-related health conditions.

                    People with severe gum disease often experience bleeding gums, and nicks and cuts in the gums can provide a way for bacteria to enter the bloodstream. If the bacteria is not attacked by the immune system in time, it can reach the heart and may cause an infection such as endocarditis or damage other organs.

                     In addition, some oral bacteria appear to secrete sticky proteins which can allow them to adhere to the walls of the arteries, rather than being swept away by the flow of blood. As the bacteria accumulate, they contribute to the narrowing of the arteries called Atherosclerosis also called "hardening of the arteries," develops when deposits of fats and other substances in your blood begin to stick to the sides of your arteries. These deposits, called plaques, can build up and narrow your arteries, clogging them like a plugged-up drain. If these plaques ever block the blood flow completely, you could have a heart attack or stroke, depending on the location of the blockage.

                     So now it comes down to How do u prevent it...  Well Prevention is as simple as maintaining a good oral health.. 

                      To maintain the best oral health, you should:

• Establish and maintain a healthy mouth. This means brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist regularly.
• Make sure your dentist knows you have a heart problem.
•         Carefully follow your physician's and dentist's instructions, and use prescription medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.

Other Problems which are affected by Dental Problems and have been conclusively established

Pregnancy -  The birth weight of the baby gets affected and the mother can go for a Pre term labor because of the Gum Disease

Osteoporosis - Because Gum Disease can cause loosening of teeth and also resorption of bone around the teeth it also can result in increase in osteoporosis specially for females.

Respiratory Disease - Bacterial respiratory infections are thought to be acquired through aspiration (inhaling) of fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage.