Nearly half of American adults over 30 suffer from gum disease. Gum disease occurs in stages, ranging from mild gingivitis to more serious periodontitis. If you are experiencing symptoms of gingivitis, such as some swelling or slight bleeding in your gums, you may not realize the potential risk lurking in your mouth. The truth is, if gum disease is not eradicated or properly treated by your dentist, it can lead to several unsettling health problems – including those beyond your mouth.
Periodontal infections begin simply, when bacteria and its acid byproducts get trapped along the gum line. This causes the soft tissues of the mouth to become irritated and inflamed. While gingivitis does not cause any bone damage or tissue loss, the more advanced stages of gum disease do. Periodontitis causes inflammation that is serious enough to form pockets between gums and teeth, which collect more bacteria and destroy the supportive bone and tissues of the teeth. The major consequence of gum disease within the mouth is tooth loss, but it doesn’t stop there. (more…)