Risks of Gum Disease
The health of your gums and teeth is important to your overall health, well-being, and appearance. At its most serious, gum disease can cause pain, abscesses, difficulty in eating, bad breath, and a loss of teeth.
There is a strong link between gum disease and diabetes. People with diabetes are not only more at risk of gum disease, but gum disease can also affect the severity of their diabetes, putting them more at risk of diabetic complications later on in life.
The same bacteria found in plaque can also be inhaled into the lungs where they may cause an infection or aggravate any existing lung condition, especially in older adults. This can happen even if you don’t have serious gum disease, but have lots of plaque.
Studies are also examining whether pregnant women with gum disease, including gingivitis, may be at a higher risk of delivering pre-term, low birth weight (PLBW) babies than women without gum disease. Even though this research is still ongoing, it remains important for pregnant women to take care of their gums and teeth.