Gum disease affects the gum and the bones close to the teeth. This condition has some complications and, if not well managed, may be fatal in rare cases. So, can gum disease kill you? Yes. This is because there is a link between gum disease and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
At the initial stage, most people with gum disease don’t take it seriously. They see it as a minor gum bleeding that stops on its own. Unfortunately, if you ignore this slight inflammation or bleeding on the gum, it can become your nightmare.
Everything that you need to know about gum disease, its prevalence, and how it can cause death will be explained in this article.
Gum disease otherwise called periodontal can affect anyone. This disease develop when bacteria accumulates and later forms plaque. In some situations, there are no apparent symptoms of gum disease, but if symptoms are present, they may include red and swollen gums that can bleed easily, a persistent foul smell, and, in severe cases, the loss of teeth.
If you do not treat a gum infection, it progresses to other stages and causes serious complications in the gums and bones in the mouth.
Gum disease and its prevalence
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that about 47% of adults over the age of 30 in the United States experience some form of gum disease. This statistic is rather worrisome, mainly because there are so many severe oral health issues that one can develop if they don’t seek professional help for their gum disease.
Poor oral health is one of the leading causes of gum disease. If you don’t brush your teeth often, it can form plaque around the gum and this can cause the gums to gum inflammation. In some situations, it may also lead to other severe diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis if not treated appropriately.
Can Gum Disease Kill?
People often think of it as something small, but in fact, gum disease can cause major problems if one neglects it. What a person might not be aware of is that gum disease can cause life-threatening conditions if not treated accordingly. It can lead into the following:
1. Heart Disease
Gum disease may perhaps be at its worst when it comes to raising your risk of developing heart disease. It has been established that bacteria that contribute to the development of gum diseases can enter the bloodstream and reach the heart, where they cause inflammation of the blood vessels surrounding it.
This can lead to a disease called atherosclerosis, which is the thickening of the artery walls and the constriction of the blood vessels.
Such diseases as atherosclerosis are likely to cause organ failures such as heart attacks and strokes and, if not timely managed, could be incurable.
2. Respiratory Infections
Unfortunately, people suffering from gum disease can have respiratory condition. How is that possible? When a person with a gum disease swallows the bacteria in the gum, it can affect the lungs. So, can gum disease kill? Yes, particularly if the person have pneumonia or other breathing difficulties.
3. Diabetes
People with diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease. This is because diabetic patients with periodontal diseases are at a higher risk of developing some diabetic complications, like renal or cardiovascular problems, which are sometimes fatal.
4. Sepsis
Still want to know can gum disease kill you? Other complications that arise from untreated gum disease include sepsis, which is a systemic infection and can be deadly. Sepsis involves the immune reaction to an infection and can result in inflammation of organs and tissues.
It can also be a sign of sepsis since the bacteria that cause gum disease can spread to other tissues and organs of the body. This condition needs to be addressed urgently and can cause death if left for a long time without treatment.
5. Osteoporosis
Also, gum disease has been linked to the development of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and raises the risk of bone fractures.
According to several medical studies, gum diseases cause inflammation, and the resulting bone loss in the jaw leads to the weakening of the bones in other regions. Osteoporosis has severe implications for the elderly because it can cause constant falls.
6. Risk of dementia
Current research indicates that people suffering from gum diseases are likely to develop dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease. Inflammation in the brain caused by bacteria present in gum diseases leads to the formation of plaques that cause Alzheimer’s.
Dementia itself is not a terminal illness, but it greatly diminishes the quality of life and the complications that may arise. For instance, elderly patients with severe dementia are more susceptible to infections, and lack of nutrition, and sometimes may develop complications from falls leading to death.
Preventing and treating gum disease
The good news is that there are things you can do today to prevent and manage gum disease. Below are the five tips you should follow.
1. Brush and floss your teeth regularly
One of the ways you can prevent gum disease is to maintain proper oral health. This includes brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste not less than twice a day, flossing, and using an antibacterial mouthwash.
Brushing and flossing help to clean the teeth and gum, because failure to clean that area often results in gum disease. An antibacterial mouthwash can also be used to eliminate bacteria that cause gum disease and bad breath.
Besides brushing and flossing, you should also see the dentist for check-ups and cleaning. People also visit their dentist to remove tartar and plaque that cannot be cleaned.
2. A proper diet
Another factor that may help to prevent and treat gum disease is a balanced diet. Intake of foods rich in sugars and refined carbohydrates promotes bacterial growth in the mouth and causes gum diseases.
Instead, ensure you include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, and lean meats in your diet plan. Some of these foods are good for your immunity and can encourage the production of good bacteria in your mouth.
In addition to eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption are important steps in the prevention of gum disease.
Smoking damages not just the lungs but also the immune system, making it more difficult to heal from conditions like gum disease. Negative consequences include weak immune system and oral periodontal disease.
3. Manage stress
Different types of stress can affect general health in that they increase the risk of developing gum diseases, for example. Stress also causes the production of hormones that suppress the immune system and promote inflammation within the body, making it difficult for the body to resist diseases like gingivitis.
To avoid gum diseases, one should reduce stress, perform yoga, deep breathing exercises, etc. These techniques can assist in your efforts to relax both your mind and body, decrease inflammation, and bolster your immune system—all of which are key elements in combating gum disease.
4. Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water should be part of your diet plan. Water helps with digestion and flushes out toxins from the body. In addition, drinking sufficient water is important when it comes to managing gum diseases.
When you drink water, it helps remove food particles and bacteria that are likely to infect the mouth, leading to gum diseases. On the same note, consuming as much water as possible keeps the mouth and, by extension, the gums wet.
Besides water, it is also advisable to avoid taking beverages that are rich in sugar and acid, like soda and sports drinks, because they promote the growth of bacteria that lead to gum diseases. However, it is recommended to take water or other non-sugar-containing products to ensure proper oral hygiene.
5. Take professional treatments
If you have gum disease, you might consult a dentist so that the condition does not worsen. In some cases, your dentist may need to do surgery to remove the plaque and tartar and treat your gums, and they might advise treatments like deep cleaning, scaling, and root planning.
At times, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics, an antimicrobial mouth rinse that can help eliminate dangerous bacteria in your mouth that may fuel the development of gum diseases.
To avoid the reoccurrence of gum diseases, it is required that you follow the dental advice given to you and practice good oral hygiene at home.
However, you can cure a gum disease without a dentist. These tips will guide you. People may think that gum disease is just a simple and painful disease affecting the teeth, but the thing is, it can be fatal if not treated properly.
When bacteria in the mouth affect the gums and enter the bloodstream, the risks of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and even death arise. That is why it is important to do something and look for treatment for gum disease as early as possible.
If you think it is normal to have bleeding gums, a sore throat, or a breath that’s bad to the bone, then just wait until it is too late. So, can gum disease kill you? Yes, it can when it degenerates.
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