Top 7 Health Dangers Of Untreated Gum Disease

Gum Disease

Gingivitis, or mild gum disease, is a prevalent problem among American adults. The common occurrence of gingivitis may make it appear that it isn't a major one. However, failure to treat gingivitis will ultimately allow it to progress to periodontitis, putting you at a high risk of a variety of complications. Some of these include gum recession, missing teeth, and even heart failure.

Continue reading to learn about the 6 most common health dangers that may result from untreated gum disease. 

1. Pain

Gum disease does not typically create much discomfort in its early stages. When you brush or floss, you may have some soreness that will eventually worsen as your gums endure more damage. Ignoring to treat the problem with your gums will eventually cause it to turn into periodontitis, which can be quite painful. Periodontitis can leave the nerves of your teeth exposed, making you more prone to infection, which will result in even more pain.

2. Bleeding gums

Gum bleeding is usually the first indicator that you're suffering from gum disease. Gum disease causes your gums to become inflamed and far more sensitive to normal activities such as brushing and using dental floss. When brushing or flossing your teeth, you shouldn't notice a taste of blood in your mouth. This is an indication that you are developing gum disease. Gum disease will keep progressing and worsening if you don't get appropriate treatment.

3. Gum recession 

Gum disease left untreated will inevitably lead to gum recession. Because your gums are such a vital element of your mouth, receding gums can become a major issue. Receding gums can expose nerves and cause teeth and gums to become separated. When gum disease progresses to the point where your gums recede, the effects become severe and long-term.

4. Missing teeth

Failure to treat your gum disease will eventually result in gum recession, which will lead to missing teeth. Your gums may separate from your teeth as a result of gum disease. In this case, your teeth may get loose and finally fall out. It's doubtful that you'll be a good candidate for dental implants if you've lost teeth due to gum disease. Healthy gums are essential for restoring your missing teeth with dental implants. 

5. Pneumonia

Pneumonia, COPD, and asthma are just a few of the health disorders that can be exacerbated by gum disease's persistent inflammation. According to the American Thoracic Society, a gum infection causes the immune system to go into overdrive, resulting in a body-wide inflammation that affects the airways and lungs.

6. Health problems 

The state of your gums is strongly linked to the state of your body as a whole. Hence, gum disease is closely associated with a variety of medical conditions, including stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. An infection in your gums has the potential to spread to other parts of your body. Ignoring the health of your gums might have serious consequences for your physical well-being.

7. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints. Both gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis patients have the bacteria Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. It activates your body's defense system's inflammatory autoimmune response, which causes immune system proteins to become overactive. As a result, triggering a joint inflammation process.

The bottom line 

If you’ve recently started to notice something wrong with your gums, avoid ignoring the issue and consult an experienced dental specialist. Professional treatment is extremely important to help prevent the condition from worsening and causing a whole slew of associated health problems. 

License: You have permission to republish this article in any format, even commercially, but you must keep all links intact. Attribution required.