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Many of our patients incorrectly believe that their mouth and the rest of their body are completely separate. After all, if you have to go to a different doctor for tooth or gum problems, how could these relate to the rest of your body? But the truth is, there’s definitely a mouth-body connection.
Certain medical conditions can leave you at an increased risk for developing gum disease, a serious illness that, while preventable, affects almost half the US population over 30.
On the other hand, if you’re suffering from gum disease and you’re not able to treat the condition quickly and properly, other issues could pop up throughout the body.
At Ueno Center Dental, we want our patients to be aware of the mouth-body connection and to get the help they need for periodontal disease and those conditions linked to it. Jeremy K. Ueno, DMD, and the rest of our providers focus on helping patients avoid these complications and understand how and why they occur.
Gum disease has three stages: gingivitis, which is reversible if caught early, minor or moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. The final stage is serious and can be very difficult to treat. It’s also associated with the health conditions outlined here.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease than those who don’t suffer from this condition. Diabetes increases your risk of developing an infection, so you’re more susceptible to infection if you’re not performing proper oral care.
In addition, people with diabetes and periodontal disease who don’t get help could see increased inflammation and higher levels of sugar in their bodies. These issues can only worsen both conditions.
Respiratory disease
Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria is left to grow in the oral cavity, causing infection. In some cases, when you inhale this bacteria, it can lead to respiratory problems. If you have respiratory problems, you also have an increased risk for periodontal disease due to decreased immunity.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone loss in the body. Periodontal disease also causes bone loss, especially in the mouth and jaw. We encourage our patients with osteoporosis to take very good care of their oral health to avoid the increased risk of bone loss.
Heart disease
The connection between heart disease and periodontal disease is serious.
If you have gum disease, you’re two to three times more likely to experience a heart attack than those who don’t suffer from this condition due to bacteria entering your bloodstream from the oral cavity and the periodontitis-triggered inflammation.
Problems during pregnancy
Pregnant patients who suffer from periodontal disease put themselves and their fetus at risk of a number of issues.
For example, you could have elevated prostaglandin, which is a labor-inducing compound. Other issues that affect pregnancy include bacteria entering the bloodstream and increased levels of c-reactive protein, both of which cause an increased risk of preeclampsia.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may seem unrelated, but they can worsen one another. The bacteria associated with both conditions are the same. People who suffer from RA have an increased risk of developing gum disease and often experience bleeding gums when they brush their teeth.
Oral health problems
And, of course, gum disease can lead to plenty of issues with your oral health. You can lose teeth, bone density in your jaw, and gum tissue if the condition becomes bad enough. If this occurs, surgery might be the only option for treatment.
If you’re dealing with one of the conditions mentioned here, take good care of your oral health. Call our Campbell, California, office today to make an appointment, or make one online. We can’t wait to see your smile!