Periodontist On Long Island Recognizes Link Between Systemic Inflammatory Disorders and Gum Disease
Year after year we diligently keep our health care check-ups for ourselves and our children. The routine comes with a certain expectancy including height, weight, blood pressure, lab screenings and questionnaires. Now physicians are adding a new set of questions to the annual exams, questions that are more commonly seen when visiting your Periodontist on Long Island.
These questions ask about brushing, flossing, recent mouth sores, bleeding gums and tooth aches. Why, because more physicians are growing aware of the relevancy between gum disease and other more serious health issues.
Researchers have studied the connection between oral health and overall body health for years. Consistently their results have indicated a direct association between gum disease and other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, among others. One theory for this connection is that inflammation in the mouth may link directly to these other issues.
To better understand it’s important to look at gum disease from a different perspective. Traditionally gum disease has been coined to be a result of bacterial infection in the gums that results from plaque build-up around the teeth. New emerging research has taken the position that something else is actually occurring in the gum line that has been long overlooked.
Plaque accumulation is no doubt a factor in gum disease however it is now believed that the more severe symptoms of periodontal disease, bleeding and swollen gums, bone loss and gum recession are actually caused by a chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection, not the bacteria itself.
If you take a close look at the health issues associated with gum disease you’ll notice that each one is considered to be a systemic inflammatory disorder. This fact leads many researchers to believe the basis for the connection is inflammation itself. Dr. Karabin, former president of the American Academy of Periodontology, shared that even though more research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the connection it is critical to maintain periodontal health in order to achieve overall health.
To help prevent gum disease and ensure optimal health it’s important to include the following to your annual care regimen:
- Annual check-ups with your physician
- Daily brushing and flossing
- Regular dental and periodontal check-ups
- Discuss any changes in your mouth with your physician and dentist right away
If gum disease develops, schedule a consultation with a skilled Periodontist on Long Island right away. For people looking for an alternative way to treat gum disease Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, providing an alternative to traditional gum surgery. Contact him today at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com
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