It is a quite well-known fact that everything ages because it is the circle of life. There’s a reason why the older generation is more prone to harmful foreign particles and a lot of diseases. As we age, our immune systems get weaker and so do our normal bodily functions. We are all going to experience this at one point in our lives. However, some people follow strict diets and make lifestyle changes to make sure that they can stop the aging process but life doesn’t work like that. Sure, you can make healthy changes that save you from a lot of dangers of the world but everything ages.

Ever since we start learning, we are taught about the importance of our oral health. Poor oral health can cause many health issues because it is an essential part of our overall well-being. Considering the older population, poor oral health can be quite harmful because one doesn’t have the strong immune system to save them from further damage. A simple toothache can disrupt the flow of our daily lives because it’s painful and makes it impossible for us to chew food. This can lead to further complications like poor nutrition and can affect our mood as well. So, how does the slightly older population deal with issues like bad oral health?

One important thing is that if you have a strong and active immune system and even if you get sick, you can fight it off and recover quickly. For the adult population, it is not only hard to fight it off but the recovery is a long road. One of the most common diseases affecting the adult population today is Periodontitis.

What is Periodontitis and Its Causes?

We are surrounded by harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause a lot of diseases. Periodontitis is also one of the diseases that develop because of the presence of bacteria around our teeth. The presence of the foreign unhealthy particles leads to a bacterial infection. A person affected by this disease experiences chronic inflammation among the surrounding tissues of our teeth. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and further damage to your overall health and affects around 500 million all over the world.

It is important to consider both the environmental and lifestyle factors that can lead to this disease because it affects about 65% of the adult population. It can be extremely detrimental to your health if your immune system is weak because then the disease becomes chronic. No amount of treatment of medication can make any actual difference once the disease is chronic. You can visit experts and try the best dental surgical instruments but if your immune system can’t fight the diseases, it’s of no use.

Some of the common causes of this disease are;

• Poor oral health habits
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Obesity
• Genetics
• Any significant hormonal changes in your body
• Gingivitis
• Frequent use of recreational drugs

In most cases, when you don’t brush or floss your teeth properly, your mouth can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It leads to a sticky layer of bacteria on your teeth and with time, it keeps growing and hardens. In the older population, the disease becomes so advanced that it can lead to painful chewing and tooth loss.

Symptoms of Periodontitis to Look Out For

This disease has many stages and it’s better to get it treated right away with the help of top-quality dental surgical instruments before it comes advanced. Here is a list of symptoms so you can head to the dentist if you are experiencing any of this;

• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums when your brush or floss
• A build-up of plaque on your teeth
• Change of color of your teeth
• Pain when chewing
• Foul or sour taste in your mouth
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth
• Any important inflammatory changes in your body

A lot of research over the past few years tells us that with time, this disease will likely affect around 50% of the population because the symptoms are often overlooked or unnoticeable. Therefore, it’s important to raise awareness about this disease because it might start with simple bad breath but can cause significant damage to your overall health.

In the coming years, people over the age of 65 will most definitely contract this disease. When your lifespan is longer, that means that all your dental structures are used more often and go under a lot of dental instruments throughout your life. Adults are exposed to more bacteria and when they have to deal with this disease, by that time, it takes over most of their health. You might need implants after the amount of tooth loss. A life spent taking extreme measures and taking a handful of medications for your oral cavity every day is not a life that anyone wants when they get old. Not all of us will be able to afford or have access to the resources professional help. Thus, the least we can do is alarm people before this disease gets out of our hands.