Dental Talk Thursday | The Little Known Dangers of
Gum Disease
It’s no secret that long-term
gum infection can eventually lead to tooth loss.
Unfortunately, the
consequences may not end there.
Current research suggests an
association between gum infections (gingivitis) and poorly controlled diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, preterm birth, and even low birth weight babies.
Here’s the breakdown:
If you’re a diabetic,
you're already at increased risk of developing gum disease. Having long-term gum
disease may make your diabetes more difficult to control because the infection
may cause insulin resistance, which disturbs blood sugar control.
Oral inflammation due to gum
infections can also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots. It seems
that bacteria in the mouth might cause inflammation throughout the body,
including the arteries. This inflammation could cause the development of
atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries which can increase your risk of a heart
attack or stroke. The more severe the infection, the greater the risk seems to
be.
Severe gum disease can not
only increase the risk of a preterm delivery, but it can also increase the risk
of delivering a low birth weight baby. “The National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research estimates that as many as 18 percent of preterm, low
birth weight babies born in the United States each year may be attributed to
oral infections.” It’s believed that the oral bacterium releases toxins that can
reach the placenta through the mother's bloodstream and hinder with the growth
and development of the fetus. The oral infection can also cause the mother to
produce labor-triggering substances too quickly which can potentially trigger
premature labor and birth.
- Rachel Faul,
Registered Dental
Hygienist
*Stay tuned for next weeks "Dental Talk Thursday" over at Facebook.com/RachelFaulFitness at 7:30pm EST
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