Research has shown that your oral health can affect far more than your teeth and gums. Ongoing gum disease causes chronic inflammation, which may increase inflammatory substances in your bloodstream and place added stress on your body’s immune system. Scheduling routine preventive dentistry at Mississippi Dental Arts is essential for stopping gingivitis before it has a chance to develop into far more serious periodontitis.
When harmful oral bacteria travel to other parts of your body, researchers theorize that this can contribute to inflammation and other physical health problems. While causality hasn’t been established, studies have linked oral inflammation to several diseases. As such, maintaining healthy gums with early gum disease treatment in Pass Christian, MS is an important part of protecting your overall health—not just your smile!
A growing body of research has shown an association between oral health and many systemic conditions and diseases:
The mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria, including those that are linked to periodontal disease. In many cases, the oral-systemic connection goes both ways, making it challenging to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship.
Data from the Harvard School of Public Health and the American Academy of Periodontology reveal that periodontal disease is significantly associated with certain male cancers and systemic cancers. Research shows that men with gum disease are 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30% more likely to develop blood cancers.
Research has shown that periodontitis can increase the risk of heart disease by an estimated 19% to 44%, depending on age. Bacteria from periodontal pockets can attach to fatty deposits in blood vessels, triggering localized inflammation that hardens the arteries and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In patients with artificial heart valves or preexisting heart defects, oral bacteria can cause infection of the inner lining of the heart, leading to the life-threatening condition, endocarditis.
Gum disease increases systemic inflammation, making it harder for the body to utilize insulin and control blood glucose levels. Conversely, individuals with poorly managed diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing severe periodontitis due to impaired healing responses. Clinical studies show that effective periodontal treatment can directly improve glycemic control in people with diabetes.
People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are at risk for various oral health issues. Some of the most common dental problems in people with HIV/AIDS are chronic dry mouth, gingivitis, periodontitis, canker sores, oral warts, fever blisters, thrush, and tooth decay.
Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy make women more prone to gingivitis, dry mouth, and cavities. Poor dental health during pregnancy has been linked to negative pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth, low birth weight, and hypertension.
Scaling and root planing can be performed safely during the second trimester. It’s important to prioritize dental wellness in Pass Christian, MS, throughout pregnancy to protect both your health and your unborn child’s development.
Pathogenic bacteria that multiply in periodontal pockets can be accidentally breathed into the lungs. This increases the risk or severity of conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are both destructive chronic inflammatory disorders. Studies show that people with periodontitis have a higher likelihood of developing RA. Conversely, arthritic hand stiffness makes routine brushing and flossing incredibly difficult, allowing oral plaque to accumulate, worsen, and form tartar.
Chronic inflammation, bacterial infiltration of the bloodstream, and shared behavioral risk factors link oral and systemic health. This essentially creates “two-way streets” in which a decline in one area actively degrades the other.
Any type of tobacco use constricts blood vessels in the gums, accelerating periodontal disease, while dramatically increasing the risk of both tooth loss and lung disease, heart disease, and various cancers.
Drinking alcoholic beverages in excess reduces saliva flow, leading to dry mouth and an increased risk of tooth decay, while contributing to liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis and cancer), high blood pressure, and systemic immune dysfunction.
Feeling stressed out frequently can trigger teeth grinding/clenching (bruxism) that can lead to TMJ dysfunction as well as tooth loss. In terms of systemic health, chronic stress can cause continuous hormonal overload with permanently elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels that disrupt nearly every major organ system.
When you choose Mississippi Dental Arts, you’ll benefit from exceptional preventive, restorative, implant, and cosmetic dentistry under one roof. Dr. Favre is passionate about helping patients maintain dental wellness with treatments that range from periodontal therapy and laser frenectomies to dental implants, root canal therapy, and more.
When you schedule routine care at our practice in Pass Christian, MS, we take the time to discuss the link between gum disease and whole-body health and the steps you can take to protect both. You’ll benefit from advanced technology, streamlined techniques, personalized services, and our kindhearted approach to dentistry!
