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The Diversity of Illnesses Caused by Gum Disease

A person's overall health may be more closely related to the condition of his gums than has been previously assumed. Thus, by brushing and flossing on a regular basis, you may be adding years onto your life in addition to preventing gum disease.

  1. Heart Disease

    • The heart-stopping news about gum disease is that there appears to be a strong genetic link between gum disease and heart disease. Essentially, people who are predisposed to heart problems are very likely to also have problems with their gums (see Reference 1). Thus, the presence of gum disease may be a red flag, indicating that more severe problems may be present. By seeking early dental treatment, patients may be able to also receive a diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular illnesses.

    Lung, Kidney, Pancreatic and Blood Cancers

    • Because a person's immune system may be weakened by gum disease, a range of cancers may more easily develop throughout the body. In fact, bacteria from an infected gum may also be a direct trigger for cancer in mouth or throat tissues. Coupled with a routine of smoking, gum disease may be responsible for significantly increased risks of lung cancer and blood cell cancers (see Reference 2). Certainly, gum disease serves to prevent healing in weakened areas of the body that may be experiencing early signs of cancer.

    Pregnancy Complications

    • Low birth weight of a child may be caused by the infected gums of a mother. Bacterial infections within a mother's gums don't simply remained quarantined in her mouth. Unfortunately, this bacteria can also circulate through her bloodstream. Excessive bacteria can even increase the risk of premature labor.

    Alzheimer's Disease

    • Alzheimer's disease, an illness that may appear when one is advanced in years, may be related to gum disease experienced early in a person's life. One symptom of chronic inflammatory disease in the body is poor gum health, according to research conducted over the course of 40 + years. Studies involving twins have suggested a variety of environmental factors may provide health risks to individuals. Furthermore, poor dental hygiene may contribute to a person's susceptibility to dementia. Results of these studies were presented by Dr. Margaret Gatz at the first Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia.

    Diabetes

    • Gum disease can severely handicap the health of a person who is diabetic. Disease of the gums may increase blood sugar, causing a diabetic to suffer continual difficulties in keeping blood sugar levels regulated (see Reference 3). A study reported in the Journal of Periodontology in 1997 observed that as the periodontal health of patients of the study improved, so did their diabetic conditions.

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