It is estimated that between 25 to 35 percent of the population between the age of 35 to 60 years old have the disease and among people older than 60, that rate increases to 60 to 75 percent.
Oral Health
An infection in the mouth can spread and become a systemic problem. This is because the blood that circulates through the mouth also travels throughout the body.
The risk of an infection can be significantly reduced by cleaning above and below the gum line.
In fact, bacteria growing in the mouth produce a toxin that triggers inflammation, which leads to hardening of the blood vessel walls and a boost the level of C-reactive protein, a compound produced by inflammation.
Periodontal disease and diabetes are where one fuels the other. Diabetes increases the risk of developing periodontal disease, and diabetics generally have more severe cases of it than other people.
This is because their elevated blood sugar fosters more toxic mouth bacteria. Once diabetics develop periodontitis, their fluctuating blood sugar levels and their generally depressed immune system make it harder to rein in gum disease.
Finally, there are indications that chronically infected gums and or teeth may lead to lung infections, because with every breath, oral bacteria get a free ride into the lungs.
In fact, many believe the correlation between gum disease and other chronic diseases, and the tooth organ connection for certain health dysfunctions, as explained in Functional Dentistry, will be the next revolution in medicine.
