Periodontal Disease and Respiratory Disease
Fountain Valley, CA
 Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is a serious oral health condition. However, did you know that, while it starts in your mouth, periodontal disease can also affect the rest of your body as well? In addition to the health of your gums, periodontal disease affects your teeth, your jawbone, and your overall health, contributing to serious issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Periodontal disease can even contribute to, and worsen respiratory disease. Bijan Family Dental Practice can help.
The Spread of Bacteria to Your Lungs
When you have periodontal disease, there is a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. If you breathe in through your mouth, you run the risk of inhaling some of these bacteria into your lungs. Your lungs are a warm, moist environment, perfect for fostering the growth of bacteria. The bacteria you inhale begin to multiply, which can then lead to issues such as pneumonia. Bacteria can also worsen existing respiratory issues such as COPD and asthma. Additionally, bacteria cause irritation and inflammation of your gum tissue. They can also irritate and inflame the tissues in your respiratory tract, which can then inhibit the amount of oxygen you can breathe in.
Respiratory Disease and Low Immunity
Those who suffer from chronic respiratory issues typically have lowered immunity. Your immune system is integral for helping your body to fight off infections. When you have low immunity, oral bacteria can embed themselves above and below the gum line without being challenged by your immune system. This aids in accelerating the progression of periodontal disease. It also placed you at a much higher risk of developing issues like COPD, pneumonia, and emphysema.
Lifestyle Factors
Smoking is believed to be one of the leading causes of COPD and other respiratory diseases. At the same time, this habit also damages your gum tissue and compromises the health of your mouth. Cigarettes and other tobacco products slow the healing process, limit oxygen in your blood, and slow your blood flow. This affects the ability of your body to effectively fight off infections and can lead deeper periodontal pockets as well as accelerated attachment loss.
Treating Periodontal Disease
When you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, getting treatment right away is essential. The type of treatment you receive depends significantly upon the severity of the condition at the time. It is also important that you inform us of any respiratory issues that you may have, as they may affect the type of treatment you receive. Common treatments for periodontal disease include
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Scaling and root planing, deep cleaning of your teeth both above and below the gumline.
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Periodontal maintenance. This treatment involves regularly scheduled appointments to help your gums heal.
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Pocket reduction surgery, a surgical procedure performed to reduce the depths of your periodontal pockets so that your gums can begin to reattach. |
By treating periodontal disease, we can restore the health of your mouth. At the same time, we are also able to help reduce the risk for, or severity of, different respiratory diseases.
Treating periodontal disease can reduce your risk of developing certain respiratory illnesses. Treatment can also help to reduce the severity of other types of respiratory conditions. Once you have received treatment, it is important to take steps to maintain a healthy mouth. For more information, call Bijan Family Dental Practice at (714) 421-4494 today.
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