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Most people know that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a necessary step in achieving overall health and wellbeing. It has become so important that physicians are also promoting oral hygiene as a way to help keep the rest of the body healthy. Several research studies have suggested that gum disease may be associated with other health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. With more and more research reinforcing the connection between periodontal and system health, scientists are beginning to understand why these connections exist. One theory points to chronic inflammation as the culprit.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's instinctive reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation. Acute cases of inflammation are easily identifiable and are often characterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain around the affected area. While acute inflammation initially intends to heal the body, over time, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of destruction of the infected tissues and potentially more severe health complications.

For many years, dentists believed that gum disease developed as a result of a bacterial infection caused by the build-up of plaque (bacteria) between the teeth and under the gums. While plaque build-up is still a factor in the development and progression of gum disease, researchers now suspect that the more severe symptoms, namely swollen, bleeding gums; recession around the gum line and loss of the bone that holds the teeth in place, may actually be caused by the chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection, rather than the bacteria itself.

This chronic inflammation is also the same mechanism that can lead to bone loss and possibly loss of dental implants due to bacteria accumulating around the implants much like what occurs in periodontal disease.

Scientists hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory response mechanism may be the reason behind the periodontal-systemic health link. Many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease are also considered to be systemic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and even certain forms of cancer, suggestion that chronic inflammation itself may be the basis for the connection.

More research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the relationship between gum disease and other disease states. However, since previous findings have indicated that gum disease sufferers are at a higher risk for other diseases, it is critical to maintain periodontal health in an effort to achieve overall health.

Dentists recommend daily oral care, including regular brushing and flossing and routine visits to the dentist to help avoid gum disease and bone loss. Should gum disease develop, consultation with a specialist (periodontist) may be indicated and can lead to effective treatment.

Dr. Carl M. Block
Board Certified Periodontist
Adjunct Clinical Professor Dept. of Periodontics
Virginia Commonwealth University
2312 Robious Station Circle Midlothian, VA 23113
804.378.2068