One patient was long awaiting a kidney transplant and before this 26 year old man from Long Beach, California checked into the hospital last July he was expecting a number of physical exams and blood tests. When he was told to see a dentist, he was surprised. He was not aware that his bad gums mattered. They said he had to be bacteria free before my surgery.
There is more to gum disease as doctors and dentists suspect. Considering research that has been compiled over the last five years, if the condition has persisted for a long time without being treated, it is possible for gum disease to contribute to diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke, pregnancy complications, and even some types of cancers. The risks when it comes to surgery including transplantation and cardiac valve replacement are heightened when there are oral infections.
A periodontist at Boston University said that for years the mouth was not considered to be a part of the body. From the New England Journal of Medicine came about a published study that mentioned how treating severe gum disease improves the function of blood vessel walls leading to better heart health. Located in the arteries of people with heart disease and the placentas of pregnant women with high blood pressure are periodontal bacteria bugs.
Determining that there is a link between gum disease and other ailments in the evolution of this research is too soon. United are the dental and medical professionals who were simple acquaintances in the past because of the convincing evidence. Changes are also able to reach the dental insurance industry. Apart from offering dental and medical insurance, several health insurance companies are also offering low cost enhanced dental benefits to high risk patients 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. If you have an inflammation, it means that your body is fighting back. It can do more harm than good if inflammations are unchecked. What most Americans have is an inflammation of the superficial structure of the gum called gingivitis which can lead to gum disease.
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. Of those, about 10 percent have advanced cases that damage the structures, ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Gum disease rarely causes discomfort and has a few symptoms other than bleeding. Later when it is too late, the gums will start to hurt. 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.
In terms of the link between gum disease and secondary infection, it involves those who have mistral valve heart defects. Valve patients have long been warned by doctors to take antibiotics before teeth cleanings as this prevents bacterial disruption in the mouth from reaching the bloodstream. The other theory of how gum disease inflicts damage elsewhere in the body involves inflammation. Chemicals called cytokines are released by the immune system as bacteria in plaque release toxins. What cytokines do is increase inflammations that cause damage to tissues throughout the body. Taking inflammation into consideration, it is a culprit in the development of many illnesses including cancer and heart disease.
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