Periodontal Disease
The Hidden Dangers Of Periodontal Disease
Did you know that periodontal infections also increase the likelihood of other diseases and even early death?
Scores of studies have found multiple links between gum disease and over a dozen serious medical problems. When gums bleed, the pathogens and inflammatory enzymes get into the bloodstream where they can spread to other sites throughout the body. If you have a periodontal infection, you’re at greater risk for all the following diseases:
Alzheimer’s:
Periodontal infections are associated with increased amyloid beta plaque accumulation in the brain.
Stroke:
Middle-aged people have a 1 in 6 chance of suffering a stroke. Gum disease increases the relative risk by 63%.
Diabetes:
Gum infections increase insulin resistance, quintupling (5X) the chances of becoming a Type 2 diabetic. If you already have Type 2 diabetes and a gum infection, you’re 3.2X more likely to die from ischemic heart disease.
Respiratory Disease:
The risk for COPD (emphysema & bronchitis) is 21% higher if you have periodontal disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):
If you have CKD, periodontal infections decrease the glomerular filtration rate leading to a 35% greater mortality risk.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Those with periodontal infections have twice the risk for arthritis.
Cancers:
Periodontal disease increases the risk for certain cancers:
Middle-aged people have a 1 in 6 chance of suffering a stroke. Gum disease increases the relative risk by 63%.
- 30% for WBC cancer
- 36% for lung cancer
- 49% for kidney cancer
- 54% for pancreatic cancer
- 52% for tongue cancer.