Health Impacts
A growing body of research indicates a clear connection between periodontal disease and a number of diseases and conditions. While research is still ongoing, there is enough evidence to support the theory that oral health is directly linked to overall physical health. Related diseases affected by periodontal disease include:
Cardiovascular Disease
Pockets of bacteria hiding below the gum line can wreak havoc on your heart health. How? Oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream may cause the liver to produce more proteins, such as C-reactive protein, one of the known factors in cardiovascular disease. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine identified elevated CRP levels as a stronger predictor of heart attacks than elevated cholesterol levels, and it recommended CRP and cholesterol screenings for accurate risk assessment of cardiovascular disease. Bacteria from periodontal disease may also cause injury to the artery wall, which contributes to blood clots.
Pancreatic Cancer
In a study highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that periodontal disease was associated with an increased risk of cancer of the pancreas. Oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream may cause systemic inflammation, which may contribute to the promotion of cancer cells. This inflammation with its increased oral carcinogens (cancer causing agents) may also lead to increased pancreatic carcinogens.
Osteoporosis
Studies by such leading health institutions the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and the University of Maryland Medical Center, have shown that a strong two-way link between periodontal disease and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, or low bone density, increases your risk of having gum disease, the major cause of tooth loss in those over 35, by 86%.
On the other hand, periodontal disease in postmenopausal women may indicate the presence of osteoporosis. Researchers found indications of a strong relationship between the advanced form of periodontal disease that causes bone loss, gum-attachment loss, tooth loss and osteoporosis.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type two diabetes patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, and some research suggests that periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control blood sugar levels.
Low-Birth-Weight Babies
The pockets of bacteria hiding below the gum line may cause preeclampsia, low-birth-weight babies, and even premature birth. How? Oral bacteria enter the bloodstream while you eat, floss, brush your teeth, and even while you sleep. Some of these bacteria can increase circulating cytokines proteins while others affect prostaglandin levels, causing them to rise and trigger early labor or other problems. Studies show that pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that is born too early and too small.
Other, more encouraging studies show that when women with gingivitis received periodontal therapy before 28 weeks of gestation, the incidence of preterm low-birth-weight babies was significantly lower than women who did not receive therapy. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology shows that “researchers found that periodontal treatment significantly reduced the risk of having a preterm birth or a low birth weight infant.”