What cause periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque, when dental plaque is not cleaned adequately. Several factors may play a role in the onset of this disease:
- lack of dental hygiene
- genetics
- smoking tobacco or other substances
- misaligned or crowded teeth
- Orthodontic treatments
- Grinding the teeth
- Stress
- Medications.
Symptoms of periodontal disease:
- Bad taste that comes back after brushing
- Chronic halitosis or bad breath
- Black triangles between the teeth
- Gingival recession
- Puss between the teeth
- Loose teeth
Toothache or gum ache
Recent research has linked periodontal disease to multiple general health problems:
- Atherosclerosis and heart disease – Gum disease can increase the risk of clogged arteries and, therefore, worsens heart disease.
- Stroke – Gum disease can increase the risk of the type of stroke that is caused by blocked arteries.
- Diabetes-Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.
- Respiratory disease – Gum disease may cause lung infections and worsen existing lung conditions when bacteria in the mouth reach the lungs.
- Osteoporosis -Osteoporosis decreases the strength of the bone that supports the teeth, which can lead to tooth loss.
- Cancer-According to researchers, men with gum disease are more likely to develop kidney cancer (49%), pancreatic cancer (54%) and blood cancer (30%).
