Periodontal or gum disease is the common oral ailment which
can turn into a serious health concern if it is not taken care of on timely
basis. Typically, there are two types of periodontal disease; i.e. gingivitis
and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the milder form of gum disease which can turn
into serious periodontitis if it is not treated in a timely manner.
Inflammation
Scientific studies have shown that chronic inflammation in
any part of the body can impact the health of other parts of the body. For
instance, there is a risk for cardiovascular disorder if you have inflammation
in your prostate. Same is true for the inflammation in the gums. The veins and
vessels in the gums are, somehow, connected directly to the cardiovascular
vessels. So, inflammation in the gums can lead to issues in the cardiovascular
system. Therefore, it would be highly unwise to ignore gum inflammation by
thinking about it as a minor problem.
Risk assessment
There are certain factors which can tell whether or not a person
is likely to have gum disease. Dentists are qualified to assess those risk
factors to make intelligent guess in advance. For instance, an obese person is
more like to have cardiovascular disorder, diabetes and other types of
inflammation in the body. Such people are more like to have gum disease as well
due to an extended risk of inflammation. Your dentist or doctor may suggest you
some exercises to reduce obesity.
Identification of risk factors
According to American Academy of Periodontology, there are
numerous risk factors which can lead to the higher risks of periodontal
diseases. Age is the leading factor in this regard. Older patients are more
like to have periodontal disease due to higher vulnerability to inflammation.
Gender is another factor. Males are more likely to have advanced periodontal
diseases as compared to women. Moreover, your dentist will assess the family
dental history. Bad oral habits and certain oral and overall health disorders
can also contribute to the likelihood of periodontal disease.
Prevention
While you can get treatment for the periodontal disease by
going to the dentist, it is even better to work on the preventive methods to avoid
periodontal disease. The first line of defense in this regard is good oral
hygiene. You have to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth on daily
basis. For additional support, you can use a high quality non-alcoholic
mouthwash.
Moreover, you will need to visit your dentist once in every
6 months to get your oral cavity thoroughly checked.
