Periodontal Disease & Its Link To Systemic Diseases

There are two types periodontal diseases: gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal means "around the tooth," so all periodontal diseases involve the gums. They are caused by bacterial infections of the gums and the resultant problems of those infections. Symptoms of periodontal disease include: red, swollen or bleeding gums; persistent bad breath; receding gum line; pus between teeth or coming out of gums; pockets in the gums, shifting or movement in teeth; loose teeth; and loss of teeth.

Although periodontitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection in the gums, it is sometimes caused by a systemic disease. The resulting gum disease symptoms are the same, but the underlying cause is different. Research has found that the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic diseases is bilateral, meaning that both contribute to the other. Previously it was thought that the bacteria that caused periodontal disease also caused other problems in the body.

Types

• Many different diseases are associated with periodontal disease. People with diabetes, heart disease, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer's or osteoporosis are at an increased risk for periodontal disease. Pregnant women are also more susceptible to periodontal disease.

Interdependence

• Inflammation has been found to be the common factor between periodontal disease and the other systemic diseases. There is both a local inflammatory response in the gums and a systemic inflammatory response throughout the body in people who also suffer from one of the diseases linked to periodontal disease.
  Treating the individual's periodontal disease reduces overall inflammation, which may help alleviate some of their symptoms from their other disease. Likewise, lowering the total body inflammation may help quell some of the periodontal symptoms and inflammation.

Significance

• By realizing the link of inflammation between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases, doctors and dental professionals can gauge who is at the greatest risk for periodontal disease. In addition to the diseases listed before, other factors that contribute to a high risk of developing both periodontal disease and systemic diseases are: smoking, impaired immune system function, obesity, high stress and a family history of periodontal disease.

Prevention/Solution

• There are many precautions you can take to prevent periodontal disease, which will in turn lower your risk of developing other systemic diseases. Oral hygiene is the simplest way to prevent periodontal disease. In addition to brushing at least twice a day, flossing is very important. It removes plaque, bacteria and food particles from between teeth and along the gum line. In addition to daily brushing, dentists and periodontists highly recommend daily flossing and biannual dental cleanings as the top two ways to prevent periodontal disease.

Considerations

• Once periodontal disease has developed, working with a periodontist, dentist and doctor is imperative. It is difficult to undo the later stage effects of periodontal disease, including destroyed connective tissue and loss of jaw bone mass. The earlier the disease is caught, the better the outcome and potential to rebuild the gums and connectivity of the teeth to gum and bone.
  Also, the further periodontal disease develops, the more inflammation is present in the body, which increases the risk of developing or exacerbating other diseases.