Don’t let gum problems play havoc with your overall health

Don’t let gum problems play havoc with your overall health 

New Delhi -6 May 2014: Swollen gums, bleeding after brushing, loosening of teeth, constant bad breath and receding gum line -- all these are signs of poor oral hygiene and its adverse impact on gums. Problems in gums in initial stages are easy to combat, but results could be as bad as loss of tooth, if not treated early.

Gum problem in early stage is known as Gingivitis, which occurs due to the formation of plaque, a sticky layer of bacteria around the teeth. Just by sticking to daily routine of brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning can help contain.

Any signs of Gingivitis like swollen-red gums or bleeding should not be taken lightly. They should rather be ‘a wake-up call’ to take preventive measures for damage reversal. If avoided, the condition advances to Periodontitis, a serious form of inflammation which makes gum line to recede, exposing the roots of the teeth to bacteria attack. The end outcome is nothing but loss of tooth.  

 

Many people do not know that gum diseases not only lead to loss of tooth, but can also be a call to many serious health issues too. “Periodontal diseases, commonly known as gum problems, can be a call to many health disorders like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and oral cancer, among others. So any sign of gum trouble should not be ignored as it not only results in loss of tooth but can expose you to innumerable health ailments too,” says Dr.Simita Madan, Gurgaon Axiss Dental, India’s leading multi-specialty chain of dental clinics.

Ø  Cardiovascular diseases: Research has shown that periodontal disease may increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are chronic inflammatory diseases, so researchers believe that inflammation may account for the association between the two.

Ø  Diabetes: Diabetes and gum diseases are totally interlinked, studies show. In fact many a times it is the swollen gums that take the patient to a dentist and ultimately it turns out to be a case of undiagnosed diabetes.

·          Dementia: The disease which hampers a person’s cognitive ability, the ability to think and causes memory loss, is also found to be linked with gum diseases. A study from University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry points to fact that these two conditions may be interlinked. 

·          Rheumatoid arthritis: There are studies which suggest that people with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to contracting gum diseases and vice versa. People with gum disease, it has been proven, are more at risk of rheumatoid arthritis than those who have healthy gums.

·          Premature birth: Though there have been conflicting reports on the association between the two conditions, there are researches which say that women who have periodontal disease are more likely to have babies before term. A baby who is born before term is susceptible to a number of health ailments.

·          Chronic Kidney Disease: Links have been found between these two diseases too. A study, conducted by Case Western Reserve University, suggests that those do not have natural teeth are at more risk of having Chronic Kidney Disease than those who had natural teeth.

·          Oral Cancer: Too much smoking, alcohol and tobacco use lead to periodontal disease. In the worst cases of gum problems, oral cancer is the outcome. There had been so many instances which prove a link between gum diseases and oral cancer.

Any sign of oral problem should not be ignored, rather steps be taken to take preventive steps. A bi-annual visit to dentist is all what is needed to keep oral health in good shape. Don’t forget, prevention is the key!