- Heart Disease
Certain substances produced by bacteria found in periodontal disease can cause inflammation of the walls of blood vessels in susceptible individuals. These areas of inflammation can cause certain blood cells to clump together, and form a clot inside the blood vessel.
If the clot is large enough it can block blood flow to the heart muscle, and the muscle dies. If the amount of dead heart muscle is great enough, the heart cannot function properly, and we have a "heart attack".
Sometimes small pieces of a clot found in large blood vessels near the heart break away and are carried by the blood flow to smaller blood vessels in the brain where a blockage occurs and brain tissues die. This is called a "stroke".
What to do?
- Patients with a family history of heart disease (especially at an early age) should be sure their mouths are free from infection.
- Patients with a history of rheumatic heart disease must keep their mouths healthy and take antibiotics prior to most dental visits.
- Anyone who has used the diet combination of Phen-fen should be checked by their physician for damage to their heart valves.
- Osteoporosis
Although the bone loss associated with the loosening and loss of teeth is usually due to bacterial infection, there is some evidence that a small degree of bone loss may be due to osteoporosis. Of greater interest is the fact that there is evidence that an increase in bone density can be associated with hormonal replacement therapy and medications such as Fosamax. At the present time this is a statistical observation and there has been no research directly associating hormonal replacement therapy or Fosamax with the slower loss of the bone which supports our teeth.
- Diabetes
It is a well known fact that the diabetic patient heals slower than the non-diabetic patient. Until recently it was believed that the diabetic's host response to infection was slowed by a high blood sugar. New evidence suggests that the bacteria in a diabetic patient produces substances which destroy bone and gum tissue at a faster rate than in the non-diabetic patient.
- Low Birth Weight
The bacteria associated with periodontal disease produce substances which mimic those found in the body just prior to full term delivery. The presence of these substances can cause premature muscle contractions of the uterus, resulting in the fetus being born before full term, and thereby weighing less than a full term baby.
Studies show that more specific bacteria found in periodontal disease were found in much higher levels in the mothers of pre-term, low birth weight babies than in normal birth weight mothers.
So remember,
- Women expecting to become pregnant should have their periodontal health checked and corrected if necessary before becoming pregnant.
- Many obstetricians will not allow periodontal therapy during pregnancy.
- Halitosis
Halitosis, better known as bad breath is similar to other body odors. It's generated by bacteria usually under anaerobic conditions. Get rid of the bacteria and you'll probably "cure" the malodor. With at least 85% of bad breath originating in the oral cavity, it should respond readily and successfully to treatment.
