RISK FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE EXPRESSION OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Healthy Mouth = Healthy Body

Untreated periodontal disease in effect “seeds”
the bloodstream with disease - causing bacteria.

• SMOKING – Smoking increases the risk of getting gum disease by 4x more than nonsmokers. It is responsible for more than half of the adult gum disease.

• DIABETES MELLITUS – Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in U>S> Almost one-third of individuals with diabetes have severe periodontal disease.

• OSTEOPOROSIS – Periodontal disease caused a 4x higher frequency of height loss in the jaw.

• PRETERM BIRTH - Gums infected with periodontal disease are toxic reservoirs of disease causing bacteria. The toxins produced by the bacteria attack the gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth to produce infected pockets that are similar to large infected wounds in your mouth. The infected pockets provide access to your bloodstream allowing bacteria to travel throughout your body.Women with periodontal disease are 3-5 times greater risk of a preterm birth than those who have no gum disease.

• HEART DISEASE - One potential risk factor for heart disease is advanced gum disease.Thus periodontal disease increases severity and risk of heart disease and stroke. Periodontal bacteria ( C-reactive protein CPR ) gains entry into the systemic circulation with bactermia causing changes in blood vessel walls and exacerbated atherosclerotic plaque. The connection between gum disease and heart attacks is higher than the connection between high cholesterol and heart attacks?

• STROKE - Risk for stroke is 2.8 times greater for individual with gum disease than those without periodontal disease.

• PULMONARY INFECTION AND ORAL DISEASES   -Inhaling harmful bacteria from the infection in your gums into your lungs which can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.