Gum disease affects everything, it seems.

More than the influence it has on the aesthetics of a smile, the functionality of teeth and the lowering of self-confidence, gingivitis and periodontal disease have been linked to a number of chronic diseases.

Ongoing studies keep revealing the true burden of having ill oral health. And it’s not simply the result of ineffective oral hygiene as some would think. Gum and teeth issues can be genetic,

There’s a complex relationship between the mouth and body and it begins at birth.

It is widely accepted that the gut microbiome of newborns originates from the mother, and is influenced by multiple perinatal and early-life factors.

Maternal age and health, delivery method, neonatal weight, breast or bottle feeding, exposure to antibiotics before or after birth, as well as an environment with pets and animals, affects immunological, endocrine, and neural pathways and plays a fundamental role in infant development.

The first 1,000 days after birth are considered to have a series of susceptible time points with long-lasting effect on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. It’s a critical period in the development of the immune and central nervous systems.

Studies have shown that the oral microbiome is above the gut microbiome  –  which indicates that the foetal gut is colonised early from swallowing, and is later populated by bacteria from the placental microbiome.

There’s also an abundance of evidence that demonstrates a continuation of flora development after birth until it attains adult-like proportions and diversity.

This takes two to three years  –  basically those first one thousand days.

What is also clear is that early microbiota imbalances have specific disease outcomes  –  whether during childhood, or as an adult. Although they’re certainly not limited to these inclusions, asthma, diabetes, dermatitis, allergies, obesity, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, as well as neurological disorders all make the list.

That it’s a major contributor to long-term health can be no surprise.

Poor oral health is the most common global affliction.

Gum disease is suffered by more than a billion adults worldwide, and is frequently characterised by chronic inflammation.

Early stage manifests as gingivitis  –  a reversible infection of the gingiva caused by dental plaque.

Advanced stage presents as periodontitis, where irreversible damage occurs to jaw bone and oral tissue.

So we know that physical and mental wellbeing all begins at birth, and starts in the mouth.

With gum disease affecting so many biological systems on micro and macro levels, for eyesight to be deemed impervious could only be wishful thinking.

Researchers noticed that 70% of people aged 65 and over with periodontal disease, also suffered from glaucoma.

This pre-empted studies to find out whether gum disease contributes to the development of glaucoma, or is simply in correlation with older people developing both of these conditions independently.

The Center for Disease Control disclosed that of approximately 3 million Americans with glaucoma, only about half were aware that they have the disease.

Unfortunately, much like asymptomatic gum disease, there are no early symptoms of glaucoma. By the time vision loss is apparent the damage is permanent. It’s what makes early detection and therefore treatment so imperative.

The study hypothesised that oral infections with inflammatory microbes (present in chronic periodontal disease) could cause a reaction in the eye if those microbes gained access via circulation through the nervous system.

The systemic adverse effects of compromised dental health can indeed potentially contribute to declining sight. Not only does it increase the risk for glaucoma, in 2018 study results were revealed at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) showing that chronic periodontitis could lead to macular degeneration in the elderly.

All of these are progressive diseases. The safeguard for each of them, is early detection and timely intervention to stop the advancement, and manage the damage. 

The key in every case, is having regular, relevant professional health care.

Decide that when you book a check-up with your oral health practitioner, you’ll always make one with your eye care specialist.

So when you see your dentist be grateful that you can  –  it’s because of them that you’ll keep seeing your optometrist as well.

And everything, it seems.

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