Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth

Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth

Posted December 2, 2011 by Wager-Evans Dental

Weight Loss Connected to Periodontitis

A pilot study conducted in November 2011 looked at how excess weight affects the body’s natural ability to fight gum disease. Researchers compared two groups of obese people with periodontal disease to assess and compare their body’s ability to fight back using natural, non-surgical methods of periodontal treatment. One group shed significant amounts of weight during the treatment and the other group maintained their initial weight. The group that lost weight fought periodontal disease with natural, non-surgical methods much better than the group that maintained their weight. Drs. Wager and Evans and our team are equipped to identify any gum disease during regular cleanings and checkups.

Periodontal Disease

If you break down the work ‘periodontal,’ ‘dont’ translates to ‘tooth’ and ‘peri’ means ‘around.’ This break down simplifies the meaning—disease that affects parts of your mouth surrounding your teeth. The symptoms of gum disease often go unnoticed during regular flossing and brushing routines, which is why you should visit our office every six months. There are actually several types of gum disease that can attack your mouth’s tissues including gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis, chronic periodontitis, and necrotizing periodontitis.

Gingivitis occurs when plaque deposits are left untreated for long periods of time. The risk of gingivitis is heightened during pregnancy, general illnesses, uncontrolled diabetes, or in the presence of poor oral hygiene. If gingivitis goes untreated, it can progress into periodontitis.

Aggressive periodontitis can occur even in healthy patients. Characteristics of aggressive periodontitis include bone destruction, familial aggregation, and rapid attachment loss.

Chronic periodontitis is a chronic inflammation in the tissues that supports teeth, bone loss, and/or progressive attachment. Progression of attachment loss is a slow moving process but short spurts of rapid progression are possible.

Necrotizing periodontitis is when section of gums, bone, and connective tissues die. These lesions are commonly found in the mouths of persons with systemic diseases, immunosuppression, and malnutrition.

Drs. Wager and Evans are invested in your overall health and quality of life. If you have nutrition questions, feel free to ask the doctor at your next appointment, or leave your questions on our Facebook page. Call 775-829-7700 today to schedule your visit in our Reno dentist office.