Periodontal Disease- The Overlooked Epidemic

Periodontal Disease- The overlooked epidemic

There’s an epidemic out there. It’s bigger than Covid,
affecting nearly 75% of Americans 1. It can cause irreversible
permanent bone damage and tooth loss. And, even worse, new
research shows it can up your risk of some of today’s most dangerous
diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis,
respiratory disease, dementia and some forms of cancer. 2

It’s gum disease – what we dentists call periodontitis or periodontal
disease – and it’s only in recent years being recognized as the potentially life-
threatening danger that it is.

Far Worse than We Thought

Dentists have known for years that periodontal disease is a serious
infection and a leading cause of tooth loss. That’s why we remind
our patients to come in regularly for examinations and cleanings.

But even we were shocked to read some of the most recent research
on how closely tied gum disease is to other serious conditions. Take cardiovascular disease. The American Academy of Periodontology reports that “Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from
coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.” 3

That’s a very scary thought – particularly when you
consider that cardiovascular disease contributes to 2,400
deaths in this country EVERY DAY!4

Scientists have discovered a link with diabetes, too. In fact, the
New York Times reports a study by Columbia University’s
Mailman School of Public Health that found that
“individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease
were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic within
20 years, even after adjusting for age, smoking, obesity and diet.”5

 Periodontal disease strikes without warning.
In fact, in its early and even moderate stages it usually has NO
SYMPTOMS at all. So while the infection grows and
starts causing irreversible permanent damage to the bones
of your jaw, you can feel just fine.

Even after periodontal disease has damaged the underlying
bones that hold your teeth in place, you may still
be symptom free. Or you may notice small changes – things
like some redness of your gums, a little swelling, maybe a
bit of blood on your toothbrush -- that are easy to disregard.

But disregarding those problems could mean bigger problems
down the road.

A False Sense of Security

The second thing you need to know is that there are a lot of
myths surrounding gum disease.

For example, many people think having their gums bleed
when they brush their teeth is normal – or at least nothing
to worry about.

WRONG.

Bleeding is a clear sign that your gums are INFECTED and you
need to do something about it fast. I mean, how would
you feel if your feet bled every time you showered? You’d
be very concerned – and rightly so.

Folks also make the mistake of thinking that if they’re
cavity-free their teeth are in great shape—another dangerous
myth.

It’s periodontal disease that’s the number one cause of
tooth loss.  In fact, according to an American Dental
Association/Colgate survey quoted on the American
Academy of Periodontology web site, dentists in this
country say gum disease is a more pressing oral health
concern than tooth decay by a 2-1 margin.3

But how about people who ALWAYS do a really
thorough job flossing and brushing? Shouldn’t they be able
to assume they’re safe from periodontal disease?

Unfortunately, the answer is “no.”  Up to 30% of people are
genetically susceptible to gum disease – betrayed by their
genes and at risk in a way they never expected. In fact,
these folks -- no matter how careful they are to always
practice good oral hygiene – are up to six times more likely
to develop periodontal disease.

Help From Experts

So what can you do to protect yourself? Get help from the experts --
namely my staff and me. We’re trained to recognize signs of gum
disease LONG before symptoms develop. And we know how to
treat periodontal problems fast – so it doesn’t develop into a situation
that threatens your teeth and your health.

Just give us a call at (212)838-2900 – and, together, we’ll fight the epidemic and WIN.

Yours in Health and Happiness,
NYC Smile Spa

1.    Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

2.    Fallacies About Gum Disease, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/fl.html

3.    Gum Disease Links to Heart Disease and Stroke, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm

4.    Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

5.    Gum Disease Signals Diabetes Risk, New York Times, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/gum-disease-signals-diabetes-risk/