The study, conducted by the Sharek Association for Research and Studies, recommended measuring and evaluating community awareness of the relationship of gum disease to organic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and respiratory infections. Concerted efforts to improve the oral and gum health of the general public, whether those with systemic diseases or healthy individuals.
The study called for the importance of raising patients’ awareness regarding the link between periodontal disease and systemic diseases using the most effective means.
Health care to improve the quality of life
She indicated that efforts are being made to educate patients regarding the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic diseases in providing medical care, and that medical care includes dental examination and treatment as part of systemic disease care, through communication and cooperation with oral health care specialists.
She stressed the need to improve the quality of life associated with having healthy teeth, and this can contribute to preventing or reducing the severity of some systemic diseases.
Gum disease affects one billion people
The study revealed a low level of awareness among the study population, with regard to linking periodontal disease to other non-communicable organic diseases.
She explained that acute periodontal disease affects more than a billion people, making up regarding 14% of the world’s population, and that it not only poses a threat to the difficulty of controlling blood sugar; It is also a complication of diabetes mellitus, which increases with the severity of gum disease, leading to a “two-way correlation” between them.
Treating gum disease helps control blood sugar
The study said: “Some evidence confirms that treatment of gum disease will lead to better control of blood sugar.”
It showed that patients with periodontal disease are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, including acute myocardial infarction.
Gum disease affects high blood pressure
The study showed that gum disease affects high blood pressure, causing an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Other reports confirmed a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure following periodontal treatment.
With regard to respiratory diseases, the study showed that aspiration of pathogenic oral bacteria present in the oral cavity may lead to the development of pneumonia or exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
bilateral relationship
The study stated that the evidence indicates that there is only one disease affecting the other, or a bidirectional relationship – each disease will negatively affect the other in this relationship – and that the association of gum disease with diabetes is the most established bidirectional relationship.
It reported that those with gum disease had a 19-33% greater risk of developing hyperglycemia, which increased with the severity of gum disease.
People with gum disease have an 11% higher risk of having a myocardial infarction.
And the study continued: Having diabetes is associated with a 3 times increased risk of gum disease, and individuals with severe gum disease have an 11% higher risk of developing acute myocardial infarction, and tooth loss – a common outcome in the end stage of gum disease – is associated with an increased risk of infection. coronary heart disease by 3%.
And she added: Individuals with gum disease suffer from an increase in average systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to healthy controls. Blood pressure.
And she continued: Gum disease was associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with hypertonia, and following 6 months of treatment of gum disease, there was a decrease in average systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 12.57 mm Hg and 9.65 mm Hg, respectively.
Gum disease increases the risk of pneumonia
She pointed out that gum disease increases the risk of pneumonia.