There is no question that the health of your gum tissue has serious systemic consequences. I can tell a lot about a patients overall general health just by a 30 second scan of the gingival or gum tissue.
Plaque forms rapidly in the oral cavity. Within hours, bacteria colonizes on the gum tissue and teeth by secreting a mucopolysaccharide that if left undisturbed, will mineralize to form calculus or tarter. These bacteria use the food that we eat for their metabolism. The end product of their metabolism is an endotoxin that once secreted in the area attracts cells in our body that are the major clean up police of our immune system. This is called an autoimmune response to a foreign molecule. Because the cells are unable to reach the endotoxins, they inadvertently begin to destroy the healthy cells of the gum tissue.
This process or "disease" is called gingivitis. The gums swell and become bright red and bleed easily as a result of tenacious and efficient immune system. Being an action of an to our own cells, we label this process an autoimmune disease. Research has shown that this process greatly effects the liver, kidney and cardiovascular system. In fact, the American Heart Association sent out a bulletin stating that gingivitis and periodontal disease and the events that occur as a result of ignoring the problem, increases the patients chance of heart disease.
