The systemic link between gum disease, heart disease and stroke has been long established. New research has now documented that gum disease can also affect your kidneys. Gum disease is a very insidious disease, and as a silent disease, it can continue to cause great damage without the person even knowing that they have gum disease.
It takes a long time for the patient to seek any help, sometimes to the point that the clinician cannot save even a single tooth. Bleeding gums and sensitivity is the most common reason the patient even seek help. In the advanced stages, shifting of the teeth causes patients to be concerned and to seek help. At this point, the disease has caused enough damage to the blood vessels of the gums that they tend to bleed even at a slight touch.
The Most Common Cause of Gum Disease
Believe it or not, the most common cause of gum disease is the presence of excessive dental plaque which forms on the teeth every six to eight hours. Improper brushing, lack of brushing and flossing as well as a lack of regular dental care can lead to deposits of plaque called calculus. Plaque is a matrix for various forms of bacteria that cause inflammation to the surrounding tissues of the mouth. When the situation becomes chronic, it starts to affect your whole body. The bacteria involved keep multiplying without check and to the point where the deeper bacterial colonies can grow even in the absence of oxygen. The body’s immune system then goes into overdrive to counter the inflammation and eventually becomes weak. The toxins released by the associated bacteria can also wreak havoc on the dental tissue and eventually lead to systemic damage.
The newer research indicates that patients who have established gum disease have a 4.2 fold higher incidence of chronic kidney disease as compared to a healthy mouth. The key to preventing this extensive damage to your dentition is to have regular dental visits as it can be diagnosed very early on during your dental checkup. When gum disease is spotted in the early stages, it is most effectively treated and also minimally invasive.
If you suspect you might have gum disease, or you have not visited the dentist in a while, we encourage you to give our team a call today at 708-425-4545 to schedule a visit. At Southwest Dental Center in Hometown, IL servicing Oak Lawn, we look forward to helping you create a healthy, beautiful smile!