THE RISK OF GUM PROBLEMS: CONSEQUENCES AND CURE
Every oral problem has a root cause not just within mouth but the sources of the problem could differ. “Research has shown an association between gum disease and other serious conditions like heart disease and stroke,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, a Minnesota-based dentist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA).
Gum disease or periodontal disease describes bacterial growth that gradually destroys the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It begins with plaque, which is a consistent procedure happening on a regular basis without your knowledge. When it increases it hardens into a substance called tartar, which can only be removed with a professional treatment.
Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main stages of gum problem. Although gingivitis usually precedes periodontitis, that’s not necessary in every case. During the early stage of gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen, bleeds during toothbrush. Bleeding may not always become the cause of gingivitis. At this stage no other tissue is damaged and can be cured with proper precautions.
If not treated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. At this stage, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from teeth and form pockets. As the problem progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone deteriorates. This leads to permanent teeth loss.
At the time of examination, the gums are checked. Full-mouth X-rays help detect the breakdown of the surrounding bone. Usually dentists handle the issues with a standard treatment that involves Scaling and Root Planning (SRP) if there is some bone loss or the gums have receded from the teeth. Scaling scrapes the plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, resulting in cleaning of the surface that helps allow the gums to reattach to the teeth. This is usually done in the clinics by giving local anesthesia. Incisions may be closed with stitches designed to dissolve or in other cases stitches are covered with a protective dressing.
Every gum problem does not require a professional treatment rather simple precautions which one must make it their routine like simple brushing and flossing, eating healthy which can control the growth of harmful bacteria. Proper brushing and flossing eliminates the plaque from the surfaces of the teeth and in between the teeth and under the gumline. Some dentists recommend specialized toothbrushes, such as those that are motorized and have smaller heads, which may be a more effective method of removing plaque as copared to a standard toothbrush.
The common treatments for the gum disease are curettage which involves scraping away of the diseased gum tissue, Bone Grafting, filling up the lost bones with fragments of your own bone or synthetic bone. Guided tissue regeneration is another procedure included in the gum treatment. It stimulates bone and gum tissue growth, that keeps it from growing into the area where the bone should be, supporting the teeth. Flap Surgery, is another method where the gums are lifted, removing the tartar. This reduces the pocket and areas where bacteria grow.
Oral health has an eminent role in your proper well-being. Gum problems if not cured can lead to other major diseases that may not remain restricted within mouth. They may exceed to other areas as well leading to pancreatic problems, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, cardiovascular problems or diabetic diseases.
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health followed 9,296 non-diabetic participants, measuring their level of periodontic bacteria over the course of 20 years. "We found that people who had higher levels of periodontal disease had a twofold risk of developing type 2 diabetes over that time period compared to people with low levels or no gum disease," explains Ryan Demmer, PhD, associate researcher at the department of epidemiology at the Mailman School and the lead author.
Earlier, it was considered that gum diseases didn’t have any direct relation with the heart. Later it was found that it may affect the health of your heart. The theory suggested that small amounts of bacteria enter your bloodstream while you're chewing. "Bad" bacteria from an infected mouth may lodge itself inside blood vessels, ultimately causing dangerous blockages,” says Dr. Moise Desvarieux, MD, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School. Scientists have looked at atherosclerotic blood vessels and have sometimes found fragments of periodontal bacteria.
Another study published in 2007 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute surveyed 51,529 American men about their health every two years between 1986 and 2002. Of the 216 participants who developed pancreatic cancer, 67 of them also had periodontal disease. Independent of the participants' smoking status, the study found that having a history of periodontal disease was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This, according to the study, could be because of systemic inflammation or increased levels of carcinogenic compounds produced in the infected mouth.
For many pregnant women, gum infections stem from the fluctuating hormone levels that come with pregnancy, says Marsha Rubin, DDS, practicing diplomat of special-care dentistry at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, who sees many pregnant patients in her practice. Scientists believe that gum disease or inflammation in the mouth possibly triggers an increase in a chemical compound called prostaglandin, which induces early labor. While this theory has not yet been confirmed, a 2001 study found that pregnant women who develop gum disease between weeks 21 and 24 are four to seven times more likely to give birth before week 37. There is evidence that poor gum health in the extreme can lead to low birth weight as well.
A 2008 study of elderly participants found that the number who developed pneumonia was 3.9 times higher in patients with periodontal infection than in those free from it. "The lungs are very close to the mouth," says Rubin. "Even in a healthy mouth there are lots of bacteria, but bacteria in a not-healthy mouth can get aspirated into the lungs, causing pneumonia or aggravating COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder."
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