Why You Should Fight The Oral Nemesis

Plaque on the teeth is like moss on the wall, it keeps forming even after you remove it. Dental plaque is a bio film containing numerous bacteria that forms constantly on the surface of teeth and gums. This is the primary cause of dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implant infections and stomatitis.

Many recent studies indicate that plaque which leads to poor oral hygiene may also jeopardize your overall health. How plaque affects other systems has not been established clearly, though it has been linked with a lot of medical conditions. One of the hypotheses states that oral bacteria escapes into the bloodstream and affects other systems. Plaque also causes irritation and inflammation of the oral tissues leading to gingivitis and later periodontitis. This may increase inflammation throughout the body.

• Many studies indicate an association between heart disease and periodontal disease, showing that patients with gum disease are predisposed to heart attacks thus it wouldn’t be surprising if your cardiologist questions you about your oral health.

• Conflicting results have been obtained in ongoing studies pertaining to premature births and gum disease. Some studies show that pregnant women with gum disease are bound to deliver preterm babies while others studies have not found a link. Other research also shows that treating periodontal disease in pregnant women were found to carry their babies to term while those who were not treated were more likely to result in premature birth.

• Periodontitis is the sixth risk factor in diabetics, and poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well controlled diabetics. This may be due to the fact that diabetics are susceptible to contracting infections. Likewise research also suggests that periodontal disease makes it difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Severe periodontitis is said to increase blood sugar.

• How dementia or memory loss problems are associated with periodontal disease is baffling but gum disease has been seen as a risk factor for dementia.

• Rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease both have inflammation as a common factor. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to periodontal disease and also have more missing teeth than those in which the disease is absent.

All this points to the fact that a healthy mouth may lead to a healthy body. Plaque being the causative agent of most oral diseases should be removed. Brushing twice a day (with an effective brushing technique) and flossing at least once every day helps in adequate plaque control but still may not be sufficient. Visits to the dentist every six months or at least every year for professional cleaning is advised. So be prepared to combat the oral nemesis on a daily basis in order to live longer and disease free.