Updated : January 3, 2022 11:51 AM IST
Gum disease is widespread and unpleasant, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it may play a role in a surprising number of seemingly unrelated health issues. Although not everyone with gum disease has another underlying disease, and not everyone with an underlying disease suffers from gum disease, but studies have found some correlation.
Research published in the journal of BMJ Open found that those with gum diseases are at a higher risk of heart problems, including heart failure, stroke and vascular dementia. Inflammation is a defensive mechanism that occurs in reaction to irritants or pathogens. However, if it persists for a long time, it might harm tissues and organs. It's likely that gum inflammation starts a chain reaction that leads to inflammation in the cardiovascular system. Bacteria, on the other hand, could be the cause of the relationship between heart and gum disease. However, more research is needed to understand the relation.
Some studies have found that there is a link between periodontal disease and tooth loss and cognitive function. Periodontal disease has also been related to an increased deposition of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Other investigations have shown that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a type of bacterium often seen in periodontitis, can also be discovered in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Following up on that finding, researchers found that P. gingivalis infection increases beta-amyloid formation in the brain.
A Lancet study found that there is a link between gum diseases and cancer. Another study of over 68,000 adults published in the Internal Journal of Cancer found that there is a correlation between gum disease and pancreatic cancer. Some other studies have also found that bacteria commonly associated with gum disease could lead to the onset of gastrointestinal tumours.
Diabetes has long been thought to be a role in the development of periodontal disease. According to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the results of a new study reveal that the opposite may also be true. When compared to people without periodontal disease, people with periodontal disease were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Erectile dysfunction affects around half of all males over the age of 40, according to reliable sources. It's a complicated problem that can be caused by both psychological and physiological factors. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and hypertension are all well-known risk factors. Periodontal disease, according to some researchers, may potentially raise the risk of erectile dysfunction. But more research is required to know for sure.