Active periodontal disease causes significant swelling along your gum tissues. But this oral infection doesn’t just cause inflammation in your mouth. It can also raise your risk of swelling in other areas of your body, creating harmful side-effects that work against your immune system. If you have co-existing conditions like diabetes or you’re pregnant, this issue can be a fairly serious problem.
Oral biofilm—what we usually refer to as “dental plaque”—can spread through diseased gum tissues directly into your bloodstream. From there, your cardiovascular system can spread the bacteria throughout your body.
Why is this important? Because the bacteria inside of dental plaque has the ability to trigger an inflammatory response, regardless of where it is. (1) So if it becomes lodged inside your heart, lungs, or even in the umbilical cord of an unborn child, our bodies will react to it. From there, a cycle of inflammation can get out of control or worsen the circumstances. From research, we know that having gum disease raises a person’s risk of serious medical issues like cardiovascular disease between 25-90%.
One of the first things to do if you’re prone to inflammation or a high risk of systemic health conditions is to have your dentist or periodontist screen you for gum disease. If there is active inflammation, sore gum tissues, or bleeding when brushing and flossing, periodontal therapy is a must. By eliminating your active oral infection, you reduce the bacteria in your body that are specifically responsible for creating swelling. This reduces strain to your immune system, making it easier to manage co-existing conditions that affect your health.
For more information on treating chronic periodontal disease, be sure to speak with a specialist.
1. Kim, J., Amar, S.(2008) Periodontal disease and systemic conditions: a bidirectional relationship. Odontology. 94(1):10-21.