Tooth Loss: How It Increases the Risk of Heart Disease

A new study conducted in Finland at the University of Helsinki looked at the connection between tooth loss and cardiovascular disease. The study involved more than 8,000 people over a 13 year period and it found that people with more than five missing teeth were at increased risk for coronary heart disease events while more than nine missing teeth increased the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and death. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are two of the most common causes of death in the world and their association with inflammatory oral diseases such as advanced gum disease is already well documented.

What Is Advanced Gum Disease?

Advanced gum disease or periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition. It can first appear as an increase in gum bleeding during brushing and flossing and as it progresses can cause deep periodontal pockets as the teeth become more mobile and loose in their sockets. Periodontal pockets are caused by the gums pulling away from the teeth, as the teeth lose the support of the gums, ligaments and bony sockets. This is because these surrounding structures are gradually destroyed by the disease. If periodontal disease isn’t treated it may cause tooth loss and is the most common cause of tooth loss amongst the middle-aged and elderly.

Why Is Gum Disease Such a Serious Problem?

Advanced gum disease has long been associated with a whole host of different diseases and medical problems that include rheumatoid arthritis, strokes and certain types of cancers. No-one is yet quite sure of the exact connection but it all centers around the fact that periodontitis is an inflammatory condition that causes bleeding gums. This enables the bacteria causing periodontal disease to get into the bloodstream and from there they can travel anywhere in the body to create new sites of inflammation as the body tries to destroy them.

Avoiding Tooth Loss

This recent study is just the latest in a long line which shows a connection between tooth loss and serious health conditions. It is a real problem but there’s no reason why you should have to suffer from tooth loss. This is one reason why it’s necessary to see your dentist at regular intervals for checkups and professional cleanings as these preventative measures are a simple way to keep teeth and gums healthy. It is important to attend regular checkups even if you think your teeth and gums are fine as gum disease can often cause few, if any symptoms in the early stages and can only be detected by a dentist.

Why Visit a Periodontist?

If you do have any signs of periodontitis then you’re better off visiting a periodontist such as Dr. Navid Rahmani at Manhattan Periodontics & Implant Surgery. Even though a general dentist can treat the early signs of gum disease, a periodontist is a specialist in this subject and has spent several years additional training so they are better equipped to deal with any signs of gum disease and can use the latest and most advanced treatments to help cope with more advanced gum disease or chronic periodontitis that needs careful management. You don’t need a referral from your dentist to visit a periodontist and a yearly checkup can be great for peace of mind.

 

In: Gum Disease

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