Periodontal disease has long been suspected as one of the major osteoporosis causes in Glen Ellyn, IL. Without gum disease treatment, severe infections can weaken and erode the jaw bone over time. This makes it extra important for patients of Dr. John Borello with gum disease to watch for symptoms of osteoporosis and take steps to prevent tooth loss.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density is weakened by a lack of mass. This can happen as a result of bone loss or if your body produces too little bone. Patients who suffer from this disease have weakened bones that can be easily broken by minor injuries.
Bones are composed of living cells that are constantly dying and being replaced. Osteoporosis affects th
e body’s ability to replace the dead cells as quickly as necessary. As a result, these bones have a lower density and are much weaker than healthy bones.
How is osteoporosis and gum disease connected?
Since osteoporosis affects any bone, the jaw is also susceptible. Without gum disease treatment, severe periodontal disease can have devastating effects on the jaw bone and greatly increase the rate of deterioration. As a result, the risk of tooth loss is much higher. Although the exact correlation between the two conditions remains unseen, most experts agree there are two possible links:
- Estrogen deficiency – Osteoporosis frequently occurs in post-menopausal women. The lack of estrogen is believed to increase the rate at which attachment loss between bone and tissue occurs. This means that gum disease treatment should be provided as soon as possible.
- Low bone density – Inflammation caused by gum disease can increase the rate at which the jaw bone deteriorates and raise the speed at which periodontitis progresses.
Since gum disease affects the health of the jaw bone, it is important to respect the relationship between this oral infection and osteoporosis. To learn more about gum disease and osteoporosis in Glen Ellyn, IL, contact Dr. Borello and schedule your consultation today!