Severe gum disease may be early sign of undiagnosed diabetes

BMJ: Severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, may be an early sign of type 2 diabetes, reveals research published in the online journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. Screening patients visiting their dentist for the treatment of severe gum disease, to try and stave off the complications associated with longstanding diabetes, would be feasible and worthwhile, suggest the researchers. They base their findings on 313 predominantly middle-aged people attending a university dental clinic: 109 had no gum disease; 126 had mild to moderate gum disease; and in 78 it was severe, affecting the supporting structures of the teeth.

Early signs of arthritis can be found in the mouth

Adelaide: A common gum disease may indicate a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis later in life, according to a University of Adelaide dental expert. Pr Mark Bartold, says multiple processes that occur in the body when someone develops periodontal (gum) disease serve as an indicator of possible development of rheumatoid arthritis later in life. “Periodontitis (the progressive loss of bone and tissue around teeth) is highly prevalent and is a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries, with up to 60% of adults suffering from the condition world-wide,” says Professor Bartold says.

Nanomedicine for periodontal disease

Radboud University. Netherlands: Periodontal diseases, including periodontitis and peri-implantitis, are oral infections associated with inflammation-mediated loss of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and/or supporting alveolar bone, which finally results in tooth/implant loss. Clinical treatment of periodontal diseases is very costly and time consuming.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a chronic and long-lasting low-grade inflammatory disease that leads to a break-down of the connective tissue and bone that anchors the teeth to the jaws .
Periodontitis can cause tooth loss.
It can also increased risk of heart attack or stroke and other serious health problems.  Periodontitis is largely preventable. It is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly reduce the risk of developping periodontitis.