Thursday, April 8, 2010
When it comes to our mouths, it's not just teeth that need care. Our gums are also an important part of our dental health.The risk factors that are caused by Gum diseases are:
Head and Neck Cancer
For years people have been warned that persistent periodontitis can cause heart disease. Now a new study suggests that gum disease may also be a risk factor for cancers of the head and neck.
Alveolar bone is the ridge of bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth, holding them in place. Loss of this bone is typically seen with severe periodontal disease. With each millimeter of alveolar bone loss, the risk of head and neck cancer increased more than 4-fold, the report indicates. (One millimeter is about the size of the head of a pin.) The link was seen even in subjects who had never used tobacco and alcohol.
Increases Severity of AIDS
An acid produced in the mouth due to gum disease invigorates the virus that can lead to full blown AIDS, a Japanese researcher, billing the finding as a world first. A group of bacteria causes periodontal disease a chronic inflammation that erodes bony structure in the gum posing a threat to the teeth and the entire body.
The acid, which can also exist in rancid butter, hinders a kind of enzyme called HDAC that blocks HIV from proliferating. In-vitro experiments have shown that the virus in two kinds of cells related to the immune system rapidly proliferates after given culture fluid containing the gum disease-causing bacteria and butyric acid they produced. Serious periodontal disease could lead to the development (of AIDS) among HIV positive people although the probability largely depends on individual physical strength.
Preterm Delivery in Women
Gum disease raises the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women and it was thought that getting rid of gum disease may potentially reduce the risk of preterm delivery. Preterm delivery rates were roughly 13 percent in the women who made the four trips to the dentist and nearly 12 percent in those that did not.
That's not to say pregnant women should not get their teeth cleaned and treated as needed; they should, the researchers emphasize, noting that treating gum disease during pregnancy is safe. Worsening of gum disease occurs in about 25 percent of pregnancies. The bacterial infection attacks the teeth-supporting tissues below the gum line. Left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss as well as a host of other problems.
Linked with Diabetes
Patients who have gum disease, also called peridontitis, could also be at risk for another disease - type 2 diabetes. And it might be a good idea to screen people for diabetes during their dental visits for gum disease.
At this point, no dentist has signed on to test patients. It remains to be seen if this idea takes hold or if dental groups sign on to support it. But a link between gum disease and diabetes definitely exists, but just how they are related is not yet clear.
posted by emedinfo
@11:46 PM
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