Time for a healthcare intervention?

Stress can be hard on the body. We know that you lose your hair, fertility and potency because of stress. Maybe your mind, too!

Now a new review has found a strong relationship between stress and periodontal diseases; 57% of the studies included in the review found a strong link between periodontal diseases and psychological factors like stress, distress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.



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 "More research is needed to determine the definitive relationship between stress and periodontal diseases. However, patients who minimize stress may be at less risk for periodontal diseases." said author Dr. Diane Peruzzo. Researchers believe that the hormone cortisol could be involved in the possible relation between stress and periodontal diseases. Higher amounts of cortisol can provoke increased destruction of the gums and jaw bone due to periodontal diseases. Untreated gum disease leads to bone loss and/or tooth loss.

Bacteria tend to adhere to and grow on tooth surfaces (microbial plaque or biofilms), particularly in areas under the gum line. This is why regular home care and professional care to remove calcified deposits is so important. Other "risk factors" include smoking, poorly controlled diabetes and inherited (genetic) susceptibility. "Individuals with high stress levels tend to increase their bad habits, which can be harmful to periodontal health. They are less attentive to their oral hygiene and may increase their use of nicotine, alcohol or drugs.

The "pocket size guide" to periodontal health should be considered; depths of 1-2 mm with no bleeding are not a concern but those of 3-4 mm may require a more in depth cleaning (scaling) and root planning. Depths over 5mm necessitate more advanced treatment and may require a visit to a dental specialist.

Regular dental hygiene check-ups will help maintain the health of your gums and teeth and detect any problems early so that appropriate intervention can be provided to prevent any long term problems. When was your last dental cleaning?