In a recent study published in Diabetes Care, it now appears that gum disease may be a predictor for the onset of diabetes.
The study is the most recent in a string of reports linking gum health to over all health. Last year, researchers at Harvard associated periodontal disease with pancreatic cancer.
Other research has linked poor gum health to heart disease, stroke and pregnancy problems. And what’s more alarming is that about about 80 percent of U.S. adults currently have some form of the disease, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.
Periodontal disease is the prevalence of bacteria that destroys the tissue that holds teeth and is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.
Smoking can make the problem worse and hormonal changes in girls and women can make the gums more sensitive making it easier for gingivitis to develop.
Want to find out whether you’re at risk, visit perio.org.
Have you had gum disease? How did you get rid of it?
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Thanks for writing about this! It is such an important topic, that I often forget about how crucial it is to floss and take care of your teeth and gums.
I just took the quiz, and I have a moderate risk for gum disease, since I do have gum disease in my family, and they note that "approximately one-half of gum disease is related to genetics."
Additionally, I am at an increased risk for gum disease because I have some "gum pockets" that have been assessed by the doctor, my gums bleed while flossing (and I do not floss that often)...all of these are common symptoms of gum disease. Wow---that caught my attention!
Thanks, again, for the wake-up call!
August 7, 2008 - 1:36pmThis Comment
I'm of the generation that was bombarded with fluoridated water and dentifrice. My mother's generation, on the other hand, seems to not have focused upon the impact of good diet and dental hygiene upon overall physical health. Hers is the generation of false teeth and, unfortunately, she has had to go through painful surgery to deal with periodontitis. Mom is a walking sweet tooth!
Flossing is something I sometimes forget to do, but can always tell, and it will drive me nuts until I can get the deed done. I must have packets of minty floss literally everywhere, in every bathroom at home, in my bag and a little cosmetic bag in my desk at work. My gums have always been on the soft side, so prone to bleeding if I miss flossing a day.
I've been reading so much, lately, about how diabetes and the sugar level in your body can affect everything from eyesight to dental health. Good grief!
August 7, 2008 - 6:14pm