The link between gum disease and chronic health conditions

Most people have heard of gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease. If left untreated, it can lead to infection of the soft tissues and bone around your teeth. This is known as periodontitis and can lead to tooth loss.

Evidence shows that gum disease is linked to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, lung conditions, inflammatory bowel disease and is linked with adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-term birth, and low birth weight.^

How do I know if I have periodontal (gum) disease and how do you treat it?

One of the challenges with gum disease is that it is a “silent disease” with no or few symptoms until it is well advanced, resulting in painful, red, bleeding and swollen gums.

Your dental practitioner will check for gum disease using a number of measurements, including the gap between your teeth and gums (pocket depth). The treatment required depends on the stage of your gum disease and your overall health.

The main goal of gum treatment is to control the infection. The number and types of treatments depend on the extent of the gum disease. All treatment requires that you maintain good daily oral hygiene.

How is Health Partners Dental addressing this?

To give our members the best oral health care, when you visit a Health Partners Dental practice, you will see one or more of our experienced dental practitioners. Our dental hygienists and oral health therapists work alongside our dentists to provide you with the best possible care and oral health.

What is the difference between a a dental hygienist and an oral health therapist?

Dental hygienist
Dental hygienists work together with dentists to provide integrated oral health care. Dental hygienists focus on prevention and education to treat and prevent gum disease.

Oral health therapist
Oral health therapists have the same skills as our dental hygienists and are also trained to provide quality dental care to children and teenagers under the age of 18.

The importance of good oral health

You can keep your gums and teeth healthy by:

• Brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily to clean between teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach.
• Visit your dentist and dental hygienist regularly for professional cleaning and early detection of gum problems.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit sugary foods and drinks.
• Avoid smoking, as it increases the risk and severity of gum disease.
• Keep an eye out for early warning signs such as bleeding, swelling, or tenderness in the gums, and speak to your oral health professional.

*Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, The University of Adelaide (2019), Australia’s Oral Health National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017-18, retrieved from: https://health.adelaide.edu.au/arcpoh/ua/media/821/australias-oral-health-2017-18.pdf

^Australian Dental Association (2023), Dental Health Week: The connection between oral and general health, retrieved from https://ada.org.au/dental-health-week-the-connection-between-oral-and-general-health