How Periodontal Disease Impacts Quality of Life
Oral health is such an incredibly important part of your life. If your mouth hurts, it makes it difficult to do much of anything, from talking to eating—and eating is important for survival. There are a variety of reasons why a person may experience mouth pain, including cavities, an injury, or even periodontal disease.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontitis is a disease of the gums that can cause damage to the soft tissue and/or the bone. This can lead to tooth loss. It is caused by bacteria that settle on the teeth and in the pockets of the gums and grow out of hand. If you don’t get periodontal treatment, you are at an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health issues.
This disease is often caused by poor dental hygiene. This may include not brushing properly or frequently. Smoking also increases the chance of a person developing periodontitis. Having good oral hygiene and making regular visits to a dentist can help reduce the chances of this disease occurring or find ways to treat it.
Impacts on Quality of Life
There have been numerous studies that have been conducted that look at the impact periodontitis has on a person’s quality of life. They have found that because of the risks of tooth loss (or the actual loss of teeth), increased amount of pain, and loss of mouth function, people who suffer from periodontal disease have a lower quality of life.
Because this disease can also lead to other health issues, and for some people it may increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, this would also reduce their quality of life and what they are able to do on a daily basis.
Even if a person hasn’t been impacted by tooth loss or suffered from other health issues, the threat of them occurring may be enough for a person to view their life in a negative manner and have a decreased quality of life. If it hurts to eat, this may also make it difficult for a person to enjoy life and get the nutrition they need.
Prevention
One of the best ways to prevent this disease is to have good oral hygiene habits, including flossing and brushing regularly. It’s also important to visit the dentist regularly so that they can put a periodontal disease treatment plan in place if necessary. It may also be prudent for a person to quit smoking to reduce the risks that come with developing this disease.
It can be challenging to live life when a person’s mouth hurts. It may impact how they eat and talk. Since gum disease can cause tooth loss, pain can be an overbearing issue. These effects, as well as the increased risk for other disease, could impact a person’s quality of life.
To find periodontal disease treatment, make an appointment with Markham 7 Dental and get on the path to feeling better about oral health and life.
