The patient, a 26 year old man from Long Beach, California, had expected numerous physical exams and blood tests before checking into the hospital last July for a long awaited kidney transplant. When he was told to see a dentist, he was surprised. His gums were really bad, but he didn’t know that mattered. Before the surgery, he needed to be bacteria free.
According to doctors and dentists, gum disease is a serious matter. Over the last five years research has been compiled and based from this, if the condition has persisted for a long time without treatment, gum disease will eventually contribute to cardiovascular disease and stroke, pregnancy complications, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and even some types of cancers. In the presence of oral infections, the risks involved in surgical procedures including transplantation and cardiac valve replacement are heightened.
The mouth for years was not considered to be a part of the body according to a periodontist at Boston University. From a study the New England Journal of Medicine published came about the information about how better heart health can result from the treatment of severe gum disease considering how it improves the function of blood vessel walls. Considering periodontal bacteria bugs, you will find them in the placentas of pregnant women with high blood pressure and the arteries of people with heart disease.
When it comes to the direct connection of gum disease with other illnesses, in the evolution of this research it is too soon to say. The dental and medical professionals who once were acquaintances are being united by the persuasive evidence. The dental insurance industry is even experiencing a number of changes. Dental and medical insurance are offered by some health insurance companies that are now offering low cost enhanced dental benefits as well for patients who are high risk and who might experience broader health benefits by having a cleaner mouth.
Persisting for a long time, the gums are inflamed by the bacteria in plaque, the sticky film that forms on teeth. Usually, inflammation is considered a positive response to bacteria a sign that the body is fighting back. However, if unchecked, it can lead to more problems. Possibly leading to gum disease is an inflammation of the superficial structure of the gum that most Americans have called gingivitis.
Although good brushing, flossing and favorable genetics can limit the extent of gingivitis and keep gum disease at bay, this condition of persistent inflammation affects 30 to 40 percent of American adults. Considering 10 percent of them, what they encounter are advanced cases that damage the structures, ligaments, and bone that support the teeth. Apart from bleeding, there are few symptoms associated with gum disease and it rarely is uncomfortable. The gums do not hurt until it is too late. Well before the gums or teeth start to hurt, the dual forces of infection and inflammation in the mouth appear to hitch a ride in the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.
Considering how gum disease and secondary infection are linked, this is through those who have mistral valve heart defects. To take antibiotics before teeth cleanings is the warning doctors have given to valve patients because bacterial disruption in the mouth can easily infect the bloodstream. It is possible for gum disease to damage the body through inflammations. Cytokines are chemicals produced by the immune system when bacteria in plaque release toxins. It is possible for tissues around the body to be damaged by cytokines that increase inflammations. What can be considered as a culprit in the development of many illnesses like heart disease and cancer is inflammation.
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