Be honest: Do you see a bit of blood in the sink after you brush? If so, you’re not alone. About a quarter of all American adults do, according to one recent survey. At the same time, an overwhelming majority – 92% – “say they understand the importance of addressing bleeding gums for their overall health.”
And indeed, it is important.
Bleeding – and red and puffy and tender – gums are an early sign of gum disease. As the infection worsens and gingivitis evolves into periodontitis, tissue damage starts to occur. The periodontal pockets around the teeth get deeper, becoming perfect breeding grounds for harmful bacteria – dark, low-oxygen, and hard to clean. The ligaments that help anchor your teeth to the supporting alveolar bone weaken. The bone itself starts to degrade.
As the teeth lose support, they become wobbly in their sockets. Some may be recommended for extraction just to give the remaining teeth a fighting chance through periodontal therapy.
But the threat of tooth loss is just one bad consequence of gum disease. The condition also raises your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke; Alzheimer’s, dementia, and cognitive decline; depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues; chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even some forms of cancer.
Every one of these health problems is marked by chronic inflammation. In some cases, the oral/systemic relationship is a two-way street. People with diabetes, for instance, are two to three times more likely to develop gum disease, while people with gum disease have a harder time controlling their glucose levels.
Even obesity can have oral health consequences, as new research in Obesity Medicine shows.
To investigate the relationship, researchers had more than 2000 university students in Brazil complete a questionnaire. In addition to asking whether their gums bled when they brushed their teeth, the survey gathered self-reported weight and height data to determine each student’s BMI. Twenty-three percent were determined to be overweight; 8%, obese.
While roughly half of all students reported gingival bleeding, analysis of the data showed that obese students had a 32% higher rate compared to their peers whose BMI was in the “normal” range.
Curiously, there didn’t seem to be a link between being overweight and having bleeding gums, as earlier research has suggested otherwise. As one systematic review of the science put it,
overweight, obesity, weight gain, and increased waist circumference may be risk factors for development of periodontitis or worsening of periodontal measures.
Weight loss is never easy, we know. Yet it’s something worth addressing in taking a holistic approach to treating gum disease. While treatments such as LANAP and deep cleanings with ozone can help reverse some of the damage, long-term success is more likely when you also make changes that address the risk factors for periodontal disease. That includes things like improving nutrition, getting more physical activity, and getting enough good quality sleep.
And, yes, losing weight.
With the new year fast approaching, it’s an ideal time to commit to making it happen and improve both your oral and whole body health in the process. Yes, resolutions can be hard – most people give up at their first slip-up – but you don’t have to be “most people.” Here are some great tips that can help you in that process and lead you to success.
