There have been several studies that have connected gum disease to other potential health problems and illnesses. In fact, the condition of your oral health has a direct impact on other parts of the body. That’s why it is reported that gum disease is linked to increased risks for heart disease and high blood pressure. The human cardiovascular system reacts negatively to inflammation by increasing cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream that can build up in the artery walls to form plaque. But what are some of the clear examples of this link? Let us examine more below.
Cardiovascular Disease: Heart Complications
Respiratory Illnesses: Breathing Complications.
Cancer: Cancerous Tissue Growth and Tumors.
Cardiovascular disease: Gum disease increases the potential for cardiovascular disease. Whereas the link may not be explicitly clear, gum disease increases the risk of bacteria entering a patient’s bloodstream. When this happens, it enables plaque buildup in the arteries. Plaque hardens blood vessel walls and increases the risk of blood clots. This can easily precipitate a heart attack, as there’s restricted blood flow to the patient’s heart. Blood clots block blood flow to the brain and may lead to strokes.
Gum disease provides the genesis of cardiovascular disease because of inflammation. This is due to the compromised immune system’s response to gum infections. When immune systems fight infections, they may compromise organ and tissue performance in the cardiovascular system, exposing them to more diseases.
Cancer: There is a multiplied risk of getting some cancer types with gum disease. According to the research results, patients with severe gum disease had a 24% higher risk of cancer than those with healthy gums.
The study further revealed that the highest cancer risk was lung cancer. Severe gum disease can induce lung cancer compared with mild or no gum disease. Moreover, according to the study, patients with gum disease have higher risks of getting colorectal cancer than people with healthy gums.
Respiratory conditions: There is a correlation between oral health and respiratory health. This can be seen from the fact that healthy gums inspire fresher breath than bad breath. There’s a high risk of respiratory infections with severe gum disease. Gum disease allows several bacteria to grow in the mouth, thereby affecting the freshness of the breath. Besides, it is likely that bacteria pass into the respiratory tract or nasal cavity via the inner upper throat.
Gum disease may exacerbate respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Gum diseases affect airway inflammation. Inflammation in the respiratory system has the potential to cause lung disease. Besides, maxillary sinus infections are due to gum disease or oral health infections. Gum disease may cause inflammation, irritation, and infection of the gum tissue and bones. This can cause irritation in the sinuses. Dental abscess pus building up beneath a patient’s teeth or gums due to oral infection can cause discomfort in the sinuses. It is estimated that more than 20% of maxillary sinus infections are linked to oral health issues like gum disease.