Periodontitis is the clinical term for advanced gum disease that has been allowed to progress and become a chronic condition. Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of plaque-causing bacteria on your gums, especially below the gum line. When this plaque builds up on your teeth, it can cause tooth decay, lead to cavities and eventual tooth loss.
While gum disease may have the same consequences as tooth decay, another serious association is between periodontitis and heart disease. Research by the Australian Heart Foundation has shown that people with periodontitis are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease. This is why you should treat gum disease early when it is reversible.
Links Between Periodontitis and Heart Disease
A Heart Foundation researcher, Dr Danielle Kamato, studied populations with periodontitis and heart disease, looking for how a bacterial infection in your gums could impact your heart. Her findings include that bacteria associated with gum disease can cause your blood vessels to become sticky.
Because heart disease is caused by fat build-up, or atherosclerosis, in your blood vessels, anything that makes them stickier will inevitably accelerate that build-up.
Book a Periodontal Examination in Brisbane CBD
You can help reverse, resolve or at the very least minimise dangerous side effects of gum disease by seeking treatment with Edward St Dental. Contact our Brisbane dental clinic on (07) 3221 5855 to book a periodontal appointment with our dentists.
