Just like the rest of our bodies, our mouths are full of (mostly) harmless bacteria, which are managed with daily brushing, mouthwash, and flossing. However, without proper care, these bacteria can cause oral infections, tooth decay, and gum disease. Even with proper care, people who are in high-risk groups, such as those who rely on decongestants or antihistamines, diuretics, or long-term medications may also be at an increased risk for developing oral infections, as are those with certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV.
How It Starts
Gum disease usually starts in parts of the mouth that aren’t being kept clean, allowing bacteria to build up in a film that develops on the teeth and gums (which is what leads to that funky feeling in our mouths after a long trip or when we aren’t able to get to a sink to brush our teeth). This causes the gums to become swollen and inflamed, which is a condition called gingivitis, an early warning sign of gum disease.
As your gum disease progresses, other symptoms become more prominent, including:
- redness
- bleeding while brushing or flossing teeth
- eroded gum line, which leads to larger-looking, more prominent teeth
- loose teeth
- bad breath
Once gingivitis sets in, it causes the gums to separate from the teeth, which allows more bacteria into the cavity, furthering the infection. The gum line recedes, and the gums appear reddened. This stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis. During this stage, the tissues that hold the teeth in place begin to break down, causing teeth to become loose or fall out.
Am I At Risk?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of all American adults over the age of 30 have reached this second stage of gum disease (periodontitis). By the age of 65, those figures have increased to 70 percent.
Age isn’t the only risk factor that affects your likelihood of developing gum disease. According to Prevention Magazine, other risk factors include:
- smoking or using tobacco products
- pregnancy
- family history of gum disease
- diabetes
- chronic stress
- tooth grinding
- some birth control methods
- antidepressants
- certain heart medications
What Are The Consequences?
In addition to losing your charming smile, gum disease can put you at an increased risk for developing a number of serious health conditions. Among them:
Heart Disease
People who have gum disease are twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease as their healthy-mouthed counterparts. While the exact cause of this is still being debated, one popular theory is that the harmful bacteria that build up in the mouth to cause the gum disease can enter the bloodstream and attach to plaques in the blood vessels.
This is no small matter – the inflammation that the bacteria cause significantly increases your risk for developing life-threatening blood clots and/or heart attacks. Other research has indicated that gum disease is linked with an increased risk for strokes.
Another heart condition, endocarditis, may be linked to gum disease. This condition is caused by bacteria from other parts of the body entering the bloodstream and lodging themselves on damaged areas of the endocardium, or inner lining of the heart.
Breathing Problems
Because gum disease sends your immune system into overdrive to manage the invading bacteria in the mouth, your body may not be able to fight off other infections as effectively. And according to the Journal of Periodontology, research has shown that gum disease has been linked with an increased risk for developing serious lung infections, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tend to have a greater incidence of gum disease, and one study even found that they tend to have fewer teeth than the general population. While a definitive link between the two diseases has not been established, studies have shown that RA patients who treated their gum disease saw a decrease in pain, swelling, and joint stiffness after the former had been treated.
Memory Problems
Research has shown a link between gum disease and an increased risk of developing dementia. Scientists believe that the same harmful bacteria that can cause heart problems to develop can travel to the brain via cranial nerves that connect to the jaw, or through the bloodstream. There is even research that suggests that they contribute to a type of plaque that has been linked to Alzheimer’s. Research indicates that gum disease that leads to tooth loss before the age of 35 may be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s.
Los of Blood Sugar Control and Diabetes Complications
Diabetics are at a higher risk for developing gum disease, in part because the disease affects the body’s ability to fight infections in general. Because of this, diabetics tend to have a higher incidence and more severe cases of gum disease.
Gum disease can also cause diabetes complications: new research shows that gum disease, particularly the harmful bacteria that build up and cause it, can make the body less successful at controlling blood sugar levels. Patients who have diabetes and gum disease have been shown to see a marked improvement in diabetes symptoms after treating gum disease.
Fertility and Pregnancy Complications
Women who have gum disease have a harder time getting pregnant, and take an average of two months longer to become pregnant when actively trying than their healthy-mouthed counterparts. Once pregnant, these women are also at a higher risk for having a miscarriage, and their babies are more likely to be born prematurely or at a low birth weight.
At the end of the day, you can handle the tooth -- and you need to. Your health depends on it.