More Than 30% Of Adults Suffer From Periodontal Disease

/Home/Specific Dental and Oral Conditions/Periodontal (Gum) Disorders

More Than 30% Of Adults Suffer From Periodontal Disease
November 7, 2007
Medical News Today

More than one in three people over age 30 has periodontitis or periodontal disease. This serious oral bacteria infection can destroy the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth, and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

It is easy to see that gum deterioration and loss of teeth result from poor oral health, but research has indicated that other illnesses may have roots in improper dental maintenance. In fact, if you do not have good oral health, you simply aren't healthy.

Dr. Phil Wenk, D.D.S, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee, says that periodontitis can lead to other health conditions or complications. "Research has linked periodontal disease to systemic disorders such as diabetes, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. There's also research which correlates periodontal disease with low birth-weight and pre-term babies."

Diabetics, for example, may have a harder time controlling their glucose with the presence of an oral infection. Yet with additional professional cleanings, it has been shown that glucose levels may even drop as much as one point. For every one-point reduction in hemoglobin A1c, a blood test that is a standard measure of glucose control, there appears to be a 40 percent reduction in the risk for diabetic complications. A one-point reduction also appears to decrease the incidence of heart attacks in diabetics by 14 percent and diabetes-related deaths by 21 percent.

Those susceptible to bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart chambers and valves, are in an especially dangerous risk group. "The bacteria that can cause bacterial endocarditis arrive there via a mechanism being picked up from a periodontal site and carried to the heart from the bloodstream," said Wenk.

Fortunately, periodontitis can be easily avoided if the proper preventative steps are taken. Daily brushing, flossing, antibacterial mouthwash, and regular dental visits can greatly reduce ones chances of developing periodontitis.