What is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is classified by the presence of bone loss in the mouth. It is caused by certain types of bacteria, which causes chronic inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s response to remove the foreign invader. Unfortunately, if the inflammation remains chronic, this protective mechanism of the body to defend itself against injury becomes destructive to the soft tissue and the bone.
Why Does Periodontitis Concern Me?
Unfortunately, periodontitis is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in the mouth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults 30 years old, and 70.1% of adults over 65 years old.
Patients with periodontitis can experience the following:
- Increased risk of tooth decay, tooth loss, and oral cancer (American Dental Association)
- 4.5 time more likely to suffer from a stroke (American Heart Association)
- 2.6 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease (American Heart Association)
- 35% more likely to develop plaque in coronary arteries and more likely to have inflammation in major arteries (American Heart Association)
- 2-3 times more likely to suffer a heart attack (American Heart Association)
- Greater risk for chronic lung infection and influenza (National Institutes of Health)
- Greater risk for diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
- Greater risk for pancreatic cancer (Harvard Health)
- Women have a greater risk for pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight (CDC)
- Men are 3 times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (National Institutes of Health)
What are Symptoms of Periodontitis?
Symptoms of periodontitis can include the following:
- Red, puffy, and/or bleeding gums
- Bad breath/bad taste that won’t go away
- Pain upon chewing
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Loose gums
- Changes in fit of partial dentures
What Are Some Risk Factors for Periodontitis?
Some risk factors for periodontitis include the following:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Poor oral hygiene
- Stress
- Malocclusion
- Genetics
- Underlying immune-deficiency
- Defective dental restoration (such as an ill-fitting removable partial denture, fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, etc.)
- Female hormonal changes whether due to pregnancy or oral contraceptives
