The study, conducted by the Sharek Association for Research and Studies, recommended measuring and assessing community awareness of the relationship between gum disease and organic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension and respiratory infections. Concerted efforts to improve the oral and gum health of the general public, both those with systemic diseases and healthy individuals.
The study recalled the importance of making patients aware of the link between periodontal disease and systemic diseases using the most effective means.
Healthcare to improve the quality of life
He indicated that efforts are being made to educate patients about the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease 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 specialists.
He stressed the need to improve the quality of life associated with having healthy teeth, and this can help prevent or reduce the severity of some systemic diseases.
Gum disease affects one billion people
The study revealed a low level of awareness among the population studied regarding the link of periodontal disease to other non-communicable organic diseases.
He explained that acute periodontal disease affects more than a billion people, who make up about 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 the gum disease, leading to a “bidirectional correlation” between them.
Treating gum disease helps control blood sugar
The study said, “Some evidence supports that treating gum disease will lead to better blood sugar control.”
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 hypertension, causing an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Other reports have confirmed a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after periodontal treatment.
With regard to respiratory diseases, the study showed that the aspiration of pathogenic oral bacteria present in the oral cavity can lead to the development of pneumonia or exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
bilateral relationship
The study said the evidence indicates that there is only one disease affecting the other, or a two-way relationship—each disease will negatively affect the other in that relationship—and that the association of gum disease with diabetes is the two-way relationship. more established.
He reported that those with gum disease had a 19-33 percent higher risk of developing hyperglycemia, which increased with the severity of the gum disease.
People with gum disease have an 11% higher risk of having a myocardial infarction.
And the study continued: Diabetes is associated with a 3-fold 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 end-stage finding. of gum disease – is associated with a 3% increased risk of coronary heart disease infection.
And he added: Individuals with gum disease suffer from an increase in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to healthy controls.
He continued: Gum disease was associated with a higher likelihood of hypertonia diagnosed, and after 6 months of gum disease treatment, there was a decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 12.57 mm Hg and 9, 65 mm Hg, respectively.
Gum disease increases the risk of pneumonia
He pointed out that gum disease increases the risk of pneumonia.
