What Happens When You Don't Get Treatment for Gum Disease

Many people get affected by gum disease, especially since its symptoms often go unnoticed until a dentist spots them during an oral examination. According to a 2012 study conducted by the CDC, almost half of American adults who are over 30 years old are affected by gum disease. Because of this, you should be more strict about your oral hygiene to prevent this from happening to you.

You need to have proper oral hygiene not only to have excellent oral health, but also because it also affects the bigger system—your body. When you neglect your oral health, you increase your risk of getting gum disease, which could ultimately lead to life-threatening health conditions.

For this reason, you must go on regular visits to your local dental house so that you can treat any new or developing diseases right away and prevent them from getting worse.

This article will share information about what happens when you don't practice good oral hygiene and what could happen to you if you don't get your oral disease treated.

How do you get gum disease?

Gum disease develops when there is plaque and tartar buildup. This type of buildup houses various bacteria that releases toxins that infect your gum's tissues and bone structure, resulting in chronic inflammation and tooth loss.

Gum disease will show little to no symptoms for young patients because the initial stages of infection may be painless. However, when you reach 30 to 40, symptoms are prevalent and need immediate care.

What signs should I look out for?

Gum disease can start as gingivitis or inflammation, but this could be an onset of the oral condition. Periodontal or gum disease is a chronic gum inflammation caused by an infection that requires long treatment. Unfortunately, this type of disease cannot be reversed but only managed.

This is why it’s incredibly important to schedule regular appointments at your dental house to ensure that proper steps and care are taken to help you maintain good oral health.

Here are some signs of gum disease that you should be aware of:

• Bad breath
• Inflamed or red gums
• Bleeding gums
• Discomfort and pain when chewing
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Receding gums

What health conditions can I get from untreated gum disease?

1. Heart disease

One of our body's biggest enemies is chronic inflammation because it attacks healthy cells in our body, which is often linked to heart disease.

When you have inflammation in your mouth, it also relates to inflammation in your heart. And when you get treatment for gum disease, it helps decrease the blood pressure in patients, reducing the chances of your heart disease from getting worse.

2. Diabetes

One of the reasons you get gum diseases is that the plaque and tartar buildup houses various bacteria that feed on the sugar-filled foods you consume.

High glucose levels encourage bacteria to attack the teeth and gums, resulting in gingivitis. Additionally, too much sugar can put you at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a bacteria found in patients who have gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. This bacteria triggers our body's inflammatory autoimmune response defense system, making the immune system proteins overactive. This occurrence will then result in joint inflammation.

4. Pneumonia and the coronavirus

People who have gum disease have higher chances of getting pneumonia and the coronavirus as well. Pneumonia, COPD, and asthma are health conditions affected by chronic inflammation connected with gum disease.

Infections in the gums trigger the immune system to stay alert and provoke body-wide inflammation. When this happens, your airways and lungs get affected, making you more susceptible to the coronavirus, pneumonia, and other respiratory-related diseases.

Conclusion

What goes on in your oral health affects the overall conditions of your body. When you have gum disease, you are at high risk of developing life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia, heart disease, diabetes, and more. To prevent this from happening, practice good oral hygiene, stay active and healthy, and regularly visit your local dental house.

If you're looking for a local dental house in Waterford, visit Dental House MI. Our dental practice specializes in professional dental services, including preventive dentistry, dentures, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and more. Book an appointment with us today!