Periodontal (gum) disease affects nearly 75% of adults in America, and we seem to be more prone to develop the disease as we grow older. The increased risk may come as no surprise to some people, considering that the older we get, the more susceptible we become to all sorts of health issues and disorders. However, like many systemic health problems, periodontal disease is an inflammatory issue. Understanding its risk factors can help researchers develop innovative treatments that help lower the rate of gum disease, as well as offer a glimpse of understanding into similar systemic diseases. With this goal in mind, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, decided to examine the relation between old age and gum troubles. Encinitas periodontist Dr. Ann Kania explains their findings.
The First Step—Understanding Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease begins with a bacterial infection of your gums. Bacteria in your mouth is not an uncommon thing; in fact, at this moment, your mouth is playing host to about 600 different kinds of bacteria. Luckily, they’re not all destructive. Most help maintain the ecological balance inside your mouth. The harmful ones (pathogens), are essential in disease progression. (more…)