Periodontal disease is a systemic condition that can manifest itself within the mouth of an individual.
Gum disease, then, is considered a dental problem. It happens within the mouth, can be treated by dental surgeons, and affects the teeth of those who experience it. However, such an understanding of gum disease is incomplete; the implications of such an understanding impact how gum disease is to be treated and prevented from happening in the first place.
Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease. The disease happens when bacteria invade the space between the gums and teeth. This invasion triggers a response from the body’s immune system. However, for some people, this response becomes chronic and leads to the destruction of the tissues within the mouth. For a Dentist Bournemouth, visit https://gentledentistry.co.uk/
The symptoms of periodontitis include the loss of bone from the jaw, the recession of the gums from the teeth, and the eventual loss of the teeth themselves.
The chronic inflammation that happens within the mouth does not remain within the mouth itself. The same inflammatory pathways that lead to periodontal disease also cause heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other diseases that are related to systemic inflammation. These relationships between the health of the mouth and the development of these other diseases are not coincidental.
The evidence for a bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease has been building over the last two decades. People with severe periodontal disease have an increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular events; these events happen even after accounting for other risk factors for both conditions.
The mouth is a part of the body as a whole. It is often in these situations that a systemic inflammatory condition will announce itself to others.
