You may not know it but there is often a direct link between your gum bone and your overall health. As a matter of fact, many health problems can be traced back to your gums. Take gum disease for instance. It usually begins when the sticky, bacteria rick film referred to as plaque builds up around your teeth. Before long, it ushers in all sorts of health problems from heart diseases, diabetes, heart diseases and in some cases premature death. That explains why many experts unanimously agree that treating gum disease on time leads to better health. Read on to learn more.
Gum Disease And Diabetes
Of all diseases that can be linked to gum diseases, diabetes stands out for several reasons. The connection between the two conditions is the strongest. Note that with gum disease, gums recede and pull away from your teeth. They then form small pockets where bits of food residue get trapped. Bacteria thrive in the pockets where they produce toxins that irritate your gums and cause inflammation. Without treatment, the tissues and bones that support your teeth start breaking down.
Diabetic people often have a problem when it comes to timely healing of wounds. That’s because their immune system is not as robust as that of their diabetic free counterparts. This means there is more breakdown and damage of periodontal tissues simply because things do not heal as well.
People living with severe periodontitis have higher levels of HbA1C which is a form of glucose linked haemoglobin used to measure how far or how well diabetes is controlled. The relationship between diabetes and gum disease goes both ways here. Periodontitis affects blood glucose control. This means bad news for a diabetic person because it makes the person more susceptible to serious bacterial infection leading to chronic gum disease. Dental check-ups step in as a preventive measure. They can go a long way to provide an opportunity to screen people for pre-diabetes and diabetes.
Gum Disease And Your Heart
The connection here has a lot to do with inflammatory products like C-reactive protein, a protein found in blood plasma. The protein is elevated in the bloodstreams of people living with periodontal disease. Its level has been proven to rise or fall in response to inflammation in the body.
Remember that bacteria found in infected gum tissue can enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of your circulatory system. This can easily cause inflammation as well as arterial plaque. It is also very important to note that heart disease and gum disease share several common risk factors like weight and smoking. That explains why the two are intertwined.
Timely Detection Is Vital
Periodontal disease can be easily prevented by regular professional care. Before then though, good oral hygiene is highly recommended. Like many other conditions, periodontal disease can be easily managed and successfully treated once detected early. That explains why seeing your dentist at least twice a year for check-up is a smart move. You may have to book the appointment as much as 4 times a year or even more if you are diabetic.