Gum Disease Could Be Health Harbinger

Senay: May Be Sign Of, Or Lead To, Serious Problems Elsewhere In Body

(CBS)  If your gums and teeth aren't in good shape, it could point to — or bring on — bigger health problems.

The Early Show medical correspondent, Dr. Emily Senay, notes that studies have associated oral disease with potential heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications, and pancreatic cancer.

On the show on Wednesday, Senay looked at the possible link between the state of our mouths and our overall health, and how we can take the best possible care of our teeth and gums.

She said poor oral hygiene can lead to gum infections.

Over time, if we don't take good enough care of our mouths, bacteria can build up inside the gums. At first, the gums may simply bleed, or become inflamed. That condition is called gingivitis.

But eventually, if that early buildup of plaque and bacteria isn't cleared away, gaps can form between the gums and the teeth. As the body's immune system attempts to fight the infection that incubates in those gaps, it produces enzymes that attack not just the bacteria, but also the important tissue that actually holds the teeth in place.

By then, the condition has become periodontitis. The teeth can loosen, and fall out. Gum disease, in fact, is the leading cause of tooth loss in American adults.

Senay pointed out that gums that bleed when you brush your teeth could be a possible sign that gum disease is developing. Gums that are red, swollen or tender are another clue. So are receding gumlines. Frequent bad breath, or a persistent bad taste in your mouth, can also be a sign of gum disease. Loose or shifting teeth can also indicate the presence of gum disease.

The problems can be reversed if they're not too advanced, Senay said. According to the American Dental Association, it's a matter of diligently tending to the basics. Brush your teeth twice a day.

At least once a day, use a product such as floss to clean between your teeth, where toothbrushes don't always do a complete job.

Avoid tobacco. It doesn't just discolor teeth. Toxins from tobacco can accelerate the process that loosens teeth, while also raising the risk of oral cancer.

Another way to minimize your infection risk is to see your dentist for thorough cleanings twice a year.

If a dentist needs to intervene further, the work can be extensive, Senay noted. The dentist may need to remove plaque deposits deep down to the roots. And if that isn't enough, surgery may be necessary, including bone grafts to replace bone in the jaw destroyed by infection. or softer tissue may need to be grafted, to bolster damaged gum tissue.

While all that sounds disagreeable enough in its own right, Senay continued, it's thought gum disease could have other consequences, for your overall health.

The links aren't conclusive, but various clinical trials suggest an association between gum disease and a higher risk of diabetes. Studies have associated gum infection with narrowing of the arteries, a condition that can lead to heart attack or stroke. There's evidence that gum disease in pregnant women can lead to preterm births, or babies with low birth weights.

And just this month, research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found a potentially strong link between gum disease and the risk of pancreatic cancer.

How can infected gums lead to other health woes?

The connection isn't completely clear, Senay said, but one possible explanation is inflammation: When the body's immune system gears up to fight large infections like the ones that contribute to severe gum disease, byproducts of that immune response can damage tissues throughout the body. And the result may well be more extensive illnesses.

For word from the American Dental Association on preventing periodontal disease, click here.

For oral hygiene guidelines from the ADA, click here.

[laserrdh]

I was most disappointed in your oral health report. DR. Senay talked about dental health like most physicians, with limited knowledge. The symptoms that were listed from the ADA indicate you have periodontal disease, not that you might have it as your report indicated. Loose dentition is not a sign you need to see someone about gum disease, it's your teeth waving good-bye. Yes, gum disease can indicate that something is wrong in your body as was indicated. However, it can also be causing things to go wrong in your body. I am a dental hygienist and of the ten patients I saw today, nine had some form of periodontal disease and this was a good day. I'm certain the ADA could find a good periodontist for you to interview and really get the facts straight. Thank you for your time. R Hyland, RDH