GUM DISEASES: A SILENT EPIDEMIC | Mya Care

1. GUM DISEASES: A SILENT EPIDEMIC Gum diseases (or periodontal diseases) are inflammatory and cause destruction of tissues including the bone supporting the teeth. There are two types of periodontal disease: gingivitis (inflammation of gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of tissues supporting teeth). If untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, an advanced form of the disease. Gum diseases are also known as a silent epidemic, as they go unnoticed in the initial stages until the disease progresses to cause loss of teeth. EPIDEMIOLOGY Chronic gingivitis is the most common type of gum disease which affects ~90% of adults globally, primarily younger adults. Severe periodontitis is one of the most common diseases globally with a prevalence of 11.2%, affecting ~743 million people. Older adults are more prone to periodontitis.

2. CAUSES The main cause of gum diseases is: Presence of microorganisms: The main cause of the disease is accumulation of deposits around the surfaces of teeth and gums. These deposits are known as plaque and calculus (mineralized plaque) which are breeding ground for microorganisms (especially bacteria). Contributing factors: Factors which contribute to gum diseases include: ● Local risk factors: The presence of factors such as poor oral hygiene, trauma from tooth brush, presence of crowded teeth, faulty fillings or crowns, and dryness of mouth (reduced self-cleansing action of saliva) encourages the accumulation of plaque and calculus, contributing to diseases. Systemic risk factors: The presence of these factors negatively affect inflammatory response to dental plaque, causing exaggerated inflammation. These factors include: ○ Smoking: The nicotine in cigarettes causes constriction of blood vessels in the gums and encourages influx of microorganisms and inflammatory mediators, resulting in gum diseases. ○ Metabolic factors: Elevated blood sugar levels activate the inflammation-causing mediators, exaggerating the inflammatory response to existing gum infection in diabetics. ○ Nutritional factors: Deficiency of Vitamin C (antioxidant) decreases the ability to remove toxins and weakens the blood vessels, enhancing the bleeding of gums. ○ Medications: Intake of specific medications such as calcium-channel blockers, anti-epileptics, and anti-hypertensives cause dryness of mouth and enlarge gums, increasing susceptibility to gum diseases. ○ Hormones: Elevated sex steroid hormones during puberty or pregnancy, and intake of oral contraceptives can exaggerate the inflammatory response of the gums even in the presence of a small quantity of plaque. ○ Other systemic disorders: Presence of disorders such as leukemia, HIV, clotting deficiencies, or decreased platelet count can cause gum inflammation even in the presence of a negligible amount of plaque. ○ Stress: Increased stress can elevate the levels of cortisol hormone in the body which affects gums. Individuals with high stress also tend to smoke or drink alcohol which have deteriorating effects on the health of gums. ● Article Source : https://myacare.com/en/mya-blog/gum-diseases-a-silent-epidemic