How Does Periodontal Disease Affect Your Health?

Periodontal (gum) disease is today’s leading preventable cause of tooth loss in adults. The progressive condition not only wreaks havoc on your smile but can also cause a host of health concerns. Visiting Highlight Family Dentistry for your routine dental exams and cleanings and maintaining meticulous oral hygiene practices are the best ways to keep your mouth healthy and free of disease!

How Does Periodontal Disease Develop?

Most cases of periodontal disease result from poor oral hygiene practices. If plaque is not cleaned off by regular brushing and flossing, plaque bacteria irritate the gums resulting in infection and inflammation. Additional factors contributing to an increased risk of periodontal disease include smoking, the aging process, crooked teeth, genetics, and hormonal changes during pregnancy. 

Tell-tale signs of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. As the condition progresses, the gums start pulling away from the teeth, leaving spaces called pockets that trap plaque, bacteria, and debris. Periodontitis, a serious advanced stage of gum disease, can destroy the bone and tissues supporting the teeth, leading to loose teeth and ultimately tooth loss.

How Does Periodontal Disease Affect Your Health?

Gum disease not only damages your oral health but is also detrimental to your overall health. Studies show a link between gum disease and many serious conditions. For example, untreated gum disease increases the risk of coronary art disease. That’s because bacteria in the gums release toxins that travel through the bloodstream, causing inflammation of the arteries and creating blockages. That increases the chance of suffering a stroke or heart attack. 

Periodontal disease and diabetes have an interesting relationship. The more elevated the blood sugar levels are in patients with diabetes, the higher the risk of developing gum disease. Moreover, periodontal disease raises the risk of diabetes-related complications because it interferes with the body’s ability to maintain optimal blood sugar levels. 

Other health conditions linked to periodontal disease include respiratory disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, asthma, and osteoporosis. Additionally, pregnant women with gum disease are more likely to deliver premature or underweight babies, often resulting in health problems from a very young age.

How is Periodontal Disease Treated?

The first and most effective line of treatment for periodontal disease is a deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing. The non-surgical procedure has been shown to reverse gingivitis when coupled with meticulous oral hygiene practices.

Scaling involves using an instrument called a scaler to scrape away any plaque or tartar buildup on the tooth surfaces and below the gum line. Root planing, on the other hand, is a procedure that involves cleaning and smoothing out the root surfaces to promote gum tissue healing. In some cases, advanced gum disease may require additional treatments by a specialist. 

What Is Periodontal Maintenance?

After treatment, we will ask you to come to our office every three months for periodontal maintenance, a practice designed to maintain your gum and bone health. Each visit will include a thorough dental cleaning and an evaluation of your gum health. Aside from treatment and frequent monitoring by your trusted team at Highlight Family Dentistry, make sure you maintain meticulous oral hygiene habits, including regular brushing and flossing to prevent your gum disease from progressing.

Periodontics Near Me

Visit Highlight Family Dentistry in Hutto, TX, to learn more about the prevention, treatment, and management of periodontal disease to ensure you maintain long-term healthy smiles. You can count on our team for outstanding, gentle care. Call us at (512) 886-2644 to schedule your appointment today!