Raised risk for respiratory diseases in patient's with untreated gum disease

Periodontitis: A risk factor to respiratory diseases

Periodontitis is a destructive inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teevth and is caused by specific microorganisms or group of specific microorganisms resulting in progressive destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with periodontal pocket formation, gingival recession or both.[1,2] The host responds to the periodontal infections with an array of events involving both innate and adaptive immunity. Periodontitis has been proposed as having an etiological or modulating role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and adverse pregnancy outcome and several mechanisms have been proposed to explain or support such theories. Oral lesions are indicators of disease progression and oral cavity can be a window to overall health.[3] Bacteria are the prime etiological agents in periodontal disease, and it is estimated that more than 500 different bacterial species are capable of colonizing the adult mouth[1] and the lesions of the oral cavity have an immense impact on the quality of life of patient with complex advance diseases.[3] Respiratory infectious diseases such as bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis are common and costly, especially in institutionalized and elderly inpatients.

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