Oral hygiene tells a lot about your overall health and gum diseases are the foundation for numerous health issues in various parts of the body. While you may perceive gum disease as a dental problem, medical professionals at ADental care link it to severe health problems.
Gum disease and periodontitis increase your risk of various kinds of health complications like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, etc. It could also bring complications to a healthy pregnancy and could also lead to dementia.
With a global crisis like COVID-19, risk factors concerning periodontitis have only escalated. Did you know COVID-19 patients with periodontitis face a greater risk of dying? A person infected with coronavirus is far more likely to die of respiratory failure due to periodontitis— much before contracting COVID-19. All the more reason to contact the best periodontist in Houston today.
The link between COVID-19 & Periodontitis
Periodontitis produces high levels of a harmful protein called interleukin (lL-6) in people. On contracting coronavirus, they are susceptible to a significant risk of life-threatening respiratory problems.
The study was conducted through the IL-6 test in Germany on hospitalized Covid-19 patients who were in critical condition and had difficulty in breathing unless they were on a ventilator. The ones suffering from periodontitis were at a much greater risk of producing IL-6 proteins that trigger respiratory complications due to the spread of interleukin in the lungs.
The researchers determined that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with periodontitis IL-6 levels above 80 pg/ml are 22 times more likely to suffer from acute respiratory problems and be placed on a ventilator compared to patients with IL-6 levels below 80 pg/ml. Severe breathing ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia have been linked to gum diseases.
Risk factors
Although dental plaque is the primary cause of periodontal disease, there are other factors you must take note of.
Excessive smoking or tobacco use
Tobacco use has already been declared injurious to health as it leads to serious illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. It also increases the risks of periodontal diseases.
Stress
Along with COVID-19, stress has been a major concern among people across the world during the pandemic. It not only affects your mental health through hypertension but also becomes a major risk factor for periodontitis.
Poor Nutrition
The one thing that has been emphasized by all medical professionals is to build immunity. This is impossible to maintain through poor nutrition. It makes it challenging for the body to ward off the infection. Along with that, it would only worsen the condition of your gums.
Grinding teeth
When you put excess force on the supporting tissues of your teeth, you could be speeding up the deterioration of your periodontal gums. Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth.
Preventive Measures
Dental health should be a priority. However, during these challenging times, the best move would be to take utmost care of your health to prevent the worst from happening. Here’s what you must practice every day to prevent periodontitis-
Floss
It is important to floss at least once a day to remove plaque along the gum line and between teeth.
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Beware of the risks
Any underlying health problems, age, genetics, smoking, etc. can turn into a major contributing factor to increase the risk for periodontitis. In this case, stay in touch with the Union Dental office to keep your dentist updated.
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Mouthwash rinse
Mouthwash can help you get rid of the remaining food particles. You could also rinse your mouth with antibacterial and antimicrobial solutions made for mouthwash rinse to get rid of throat infections.
In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 has escalated the health risks for people suffering from periodontal disease. It would be best to stay in touch with your periodontists throughout the pandemic to keep them updated on your condition
