Dental Advices Provided to you by: Brite Medical Center
Navigating middle school is tough: How parents can help
Is online gambling harming you?
Preventable liver disease is rising: What you eat — and avoid — counts
Fall shots: Who’s most vulnerable to RSV, COVID, and the flu?
Got immunity? Thank your thymus
Easy ways to shop for healthful, cost-conscious foods
When — and how — should you be screened for colon cancer?
7 organs or glands you may do just fine without
How to help your child get the sleep they need
What color is your tongue? What’s healthy, what’s not?
Heart Health
Regular flossing, along with brushing, are key in preventing periodontal disease.
Image: Canstock
Periodontal disease (periodontitis) has long been known as the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. But the damage isn’t confined to the mouth. Gum disease has also been associated with an increased risk of serious degenerative diseases.
Like our intestines, our mouths house complex ecosystems of bacteria, known as the oral microbiome. And as in the gut, different types of bacteria compete for space. When all the species are in balance, the gums are protected from disease-causing bacteria. Disturbing this balance provides an opening for pathogens to invade, causing periodontal disease, which further disrupts the bacterial balance.
Pathogenic bacteria initiate periodontal disease; however, they aren’t the only — or even the major — culprits. “Yesterday we used to think that bacteria destroyed tissue; today scientists understand that it’s inflammation caused by the bacteria that destroys tissue,” says Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, chair of the Department of Applied Sciences at Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute. That is, the disease-causing bacteria trigger a response from the body’s immune system, and the white blood cells summoned to eradicate them produce substances that not only destroy bacteria but also damage gum tissue.
The effects of periodontal disease range from mild redness and swelling of the gums (gingivitis) to complete destruction of the tooth’s bony support structure (advanced periodontitis), which is responsible for tooth loss.
Over the years, people with perio-dontal disease have been found to be at higher risk for cardiovascular dis-ease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, pregnancy complications, and dementia. We don’t yet know if periodontal disease actually causes other health problems, or if people with chronic health issues have more difficulty taking care of their teeth and gums. “It’s an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship, says Dr. Van Dyke. “But inflammation, which plays a role in all these conditions, seems to be the link.”
Moreover, the association probably works both ways. For example, diabetes research has determined that successfully treating periodontitis reduces the severity of diabetes and vice versa.
The following, which either help to prevent bacterial infection or reduce inflammation, are still the best ways to reduce your risk of gum disease.
Brush and floss. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss before bedtime. If you have bridges, implants, or wide spaces between your teeth, you may want to use interdental brushes — toothpick-like implements with tiny bristles at one end—to clear trapped food.
Don’t smoke. People who smoke up to a half a pack of cigarettes per day are almost three times as likely as nonsmokers to have periodontitis; those who smoke more than a pack and a half of cigarettes per day have almost six times the risk.
Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in vegetables and vegetable oils, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fatty fish not only provides all the essential nutrients, but it helps suppress inflammation. There is some evidence that people whose diets are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish, have a reduced risk of periodontal disease.
Have regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Your dentist or dental hygienist can remove bacteria-harboring plaque and spot the first signs of periodontal disease.
Get treatment at the first signs of gum disease. Swollen, bleeding gums; pockets of pus; or gums that have pulled away from your teeth are the most dramatic signs of periodontal disease. Subtler changes, such as widening spaces between your teeth, and bridges or partial dentures that don’t fit as well as they once did, may also signal periodontitis.
Today’s approaches to treating periodontal disease are directed at eradicating the bacteria that cause it with antibiotics and through scaling and root planting — a procedure in which a clinician uses tools to scrape bacteria-laden plaque from the surfaces and roots of teeth. Tomorrow’s therapies are likely to involve more targeted approaches.
Scientists have identified the 700 species of bacteria that inhabit our mouths, presenting the possibility of probiotic therapies that prevent harmful bacteria from getting a foothold. Research may also yield a new generation of therapies that wind down the inflammatory response rather than inhibit it completely, and thus may have fewer side effects than current anti-inflammatory medications do.
Beverly Merz, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Mind & Mood
Mind & Mood
Mind & Mood
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
Please enable cookies to submit
© 2023 Harvard Health Publishing® of The President and Fellows of Harvard College
Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Thanks for visiting. Don’t miss your FREE gift.
The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School
Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School
Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts.
BONUS! Sign up now and
get a FREE copy of the
Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness
Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.
Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.
Book Your Appontment with Our Dental Team Now: Call: +97444147405