By Arthur Kezian

It may seem a little bit awkward and strange to many of you, but it is true and Dr. Kezian also believes in it. Scientists have found a correlation between Gum Disease (also known as Periodontal Disease) and bacteria found in the knees of Arthritis Patients. Patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis were used for research purposes. After the completion of research, scientists found the traces of gum bacteria in the knees of Arthritic patient. Research has proved that the bacteria found in the mouth of a gum disease patient is liable for the Arthritis of knees. This research has also added weight to the fact that poor oral hygiene means poor overall health.

The Connection between Gum Disease and Arthritis

The following correlation was found between Gum Disease and Arthritis during research:

• Bacteria found in the mouth of a Periodontal Disease patient passed to the synovial fluid found around the kneecap of an Arthritic patient.
• During the research, a DNA Analysis proved that that bacteria found in the synovial fluid was actually originated from the periodontal tissue.
• People who are suffering from periodontitis (the severe stage of periodontal disease) have higher blood level of an antibody, which ultimately leads to a more damaging and severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Health Issues Which Have Been Linked To Gum Disease

Many other health conditions have also been linked to Gum disease. These issues include:

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Stroke

However, a direct relationship between these issues and gum disease has not yet been found as it has been found between Arthritis and gum disease.

Can Good Dental Care Prevent Arthritis?

The answer in short is, for sure. During the research it was also observed that patients who were suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease both, were able to reduce their Arthritis to a reasonable level when they followed a good oral hygiene regimen. They were able to the following Arthritic problems to a noticeable amount:

• Arthritic Joint Pain
• Number of Swollen Joints
• Degree of Morning Stiffness

So if you keep up with good habits of dental care, you may also get a noticeable relief in your Arthritic problems.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gum Disease?

Given below are some symptoms of Gum Disease:

• Swollen, Red and Sensitive Gums
• Bleeding (especially during brushing)
• Loose teeth
• Pus between gums and teeth
• Bad Breath that is not going away

There are also some other symptoms of periodontal disease, for example: a change in the closing or fit of your teeth.

What Can I Do For Preventing Gum Disease?

It’s great if you are waking up before getting too late. If you follow some good practices, then you may surely get a good oral hygiene and it is not too difficult to prevent gum disease. Just follow some good oral health practices:

• Brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day.
• Flossing your teeth on a daily is very important.
• Use an oral rinse.
• Visit Dr. Kezian for regular dental care and checkups after every 6 months.

So this was just another reason for keeping your teeth healthy. Don’t compromise on your oral health otherwise it may be very costly for you. If you are not suffering from Periodontal Disease, then preventing it for future can help in reducing the risk of Arthritis. On the other hand, if you are suffering from Arthritis and Periodontal Disease both, then treating periodontal disease can be very helpful for Arthritis too. So for avoiding such a painful situation of Arthritis, please ensure a regular oral health checkup from Dr. Kezian.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777