Gum Disease and Other Health Issues: The Studies Continue

New research relates gum disease to even more systemic issues of the body.

In a study as reported in ScienceDaily, researchers, led by a team at NYU Langone Health and Perlmutter Cancer Center, discovered that more than a dozen bacterial species (among the hundreds that live in the mouth) were linked to a 50% increased chance of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. For the research, the team analyzed data from three ongoing investigations gathered on behalf of the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II; the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial; and the Southern Community Cohort Study. The group tracked 159,840 Americans to see how “diet, lifestyle, medical history, and many other factors” are involved in cancer. Participants provided saliva samples, and the researchers followed up approximately 10-15 years later, accounting for factors such as age, race, and smoking and alcohol consumption.

In other research published by Tokyo Medical and Dental University on the relationship between severe gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease), experiments conducted seemed to confirm that infection with specific bacteria found in the mouth lead to increased limb swelling, cellular infiltration into the joint lining and higher levels of the inflammatory small proteins that affect the body’s immune and inflammatory response.

The relationship between severe gum disease (periodontitis) and so many other negative issues of the body is continually studied. While the debate continues as to exactly how the diseases are linked, these studies show us just how important it is to take care of your teeth and gums!

If You Think You Have Gum Disease

In its earliest stage, called gingivitis, gum disease can be reversed. If not treated, gingivitis can eventually progress to more serious stages of gum disease, including periodontitis, which affects the gum and bone tissue that support your teeth. Your teeth can become loose and even fall out.

If you’ve already been diagnosed, or suspect you may have gum disease, improving your at-home dental hygiene and keeping up with professional visits can make the difference between managed gum disease and eventual tooth loss. For early stages of gum disease, we might recommend conservative periodontal hygiene visits to remove plaque and tartar and clean more deeply under the gums to tackle bacteria at the tooth roots. More serious stages of gum disease may include a variety of surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapies including laser periodontal treatments, gum and bone grafting, Pinhole® gum rejuvenation, antibiotics and more.

Don’t Wait!

Paying attention to what’s going on in your mouth —the gateway to the body—is very important! There are too many studies out there showing how gum disease can make you more predisposed for conditions like the ones mentioned above as well as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and more. If you have gum disease, delaying treatment isn’t going to help your smile, your body or your wallet. Your odds of saving your natural teeth can decrease the longer you wait for treatment. And delaying treatment means the cost for down-the-road procedures can be more expensive since more complicated surgeries and therapies are required to help manage the disease.

Healthy teeth and gums can make such a difference in your life. Contact us to schedule a gum disease consultation with one of our board-certified periodontists. We’re here to help guide you on your journey toward a healthier, more attractive smile!