Gum Disease Linked to Systemic Disease
Dr. Furber – 31 Dec 2009

Although many people consider their dental health as a separate and essentially isolated facet of their overall health and well being, that is not directly related to general medical conditions, the opposite is actually true. Diseases that originate within the mouth, teeth and gums can have a powerful impact on one’s general physical health. Similarly, illnesses and unwanted health conditions in other parts of the body can cause dental health to deteriorate in ways that are often serious and require immediate treatment and prolonged dental therapy.

About twelve years ago, the American Academy of Periodontology, an organization devoted to the understanding of gum or periodontal diseases and their treatment, launched a campaign to broadcast information to the general public regarding the interrelationship between dental health and general health. They were prompted by findings that confirmed infections in the mouth and gums can and often do travel to the parts of the body. The converse was also confirmed – systemic or chronic diseases can also create harmful inflammation of the periodontal tissues. In other words the process does not simply work in one direction, as dentists and medical researchers used to believe, but infection between the gums and the rest of the body is a two-way street where bacteria can come and go in both directions.

Links have been made between the presence of periodontal disease and other inflammatory conditions including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. By maintaining healthy oral hygiene and proactively treating periodontal problems, patients can also help to combat the effects of other systemic diseases and reduce symptomatic inflammation that occurs elsewhere in the body. Treatment of systemic diseases in the body and good overall medical health will also contribute to healthier teeth and gums and reduce the risk of periodontal infection.

This kind of discussion may sound like one that should be reserved for doctors, dentists, biologists or medical research scientists. But even the average dental patient, with no medical training or background, can benefit from understanding this critical link or relationship between gum disease and systemic diseases.

Eating a healthy balanced diet of wholesome foods and drinking an adequate amount of water every day can work wonders in terms of improving both periodontal health and overall health. Those individuals suffering from conditions such as cardiac disease are advised to stick to a particular diet and exercise program that will support their heart and simultaneously help support stronger teeth and healthy gums.

Periodontal diseases typically begin with swollen gums that bleed easily and feel tender. Left unchecked, this kind of infection can accelerate and cause the breakdown of bone and destroy the periodontal ligament that helps anchor the teeth in place. After such damage, major tooth loss becomes an additional symptom of gum disease and problems can spread to other parts of the body including the heart.

But those who keep their teeth clean, floss regularly, schedule regular visits to the dentist and avoid high-risk behaviors like smoking, can take advantage of the two-way link between periodontal health and overall health.
Good health is a two-way street. Taking care of the gums is also a smart and important way to take care of the whole body and any systemic diseases that are being treated by a physician or specialist.