Periodontal disease causes painless, non-itchy gum inflammation that is often overlooked. It is a chronic “killer” that slowly eats away at your teeth and can eventually lead to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis, among others. Periodontal disease is an infection between the teeth and gums, and even the soft tissues, caused by not cleaning the teeth thoroughly, thus creating a source of infection in the body. Bacteria and toxins from periodontal disease can circulate through the blood vessels and down the bloodstream throughout the body and cause disease. “Periodontal disease can cause these diseases in addition to its effects on pregnant women. Pregnant women with periodontal disease have cardiovascular problems that can cause premature uterine contractions and preterm labor, and their fetuses are four to seven times more likely to be underweight or born prematurely than the average healthy pregnant woman.” Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by the accumulation of bacteria. Symptoms include: inflammation of the gums, bleeding from brushing, persistent boring pain in the gums, bad breath, enlarged gaps, gum recession, tooth sensitivity, wobbly teeth, sore and weak teeth, destruction of the alveolar bone, easy food congestion between teeth, tilted and shifted teeth, etc. Studies have shown that bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause the heart and arteries to become contaminated with periodontal disease-causing bacteria. Long-term exposure to these bacteria and long-term chronic inflammation of the arteries increases the risk of cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction. Western studies have shown that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to get heart disease as the general population. Bacteria and toxins from periodontal disease cause cholesterol ester cells and other substances in blood vessels to bind and form clots. These clots can lead to the formation of heart disease such as atherosclerosis, stroke, ischemic heart disease and coronary artery blockage. The DNA of the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease is the same as that of the bacteria responsible for bacterial endocarditis and the bacteria associated with atherosclerosis. If a heart patient is treated for periodontal disease, his heart condition will improve. Diabetes and periodontal disease: Periodontal disease can cause the destruction of periodontal fibers and alveolar bone, eventually leading to tooth loss or extraction. Periodontal disease is also one of the six major complications of diabetes. The incidence of periodontal disease in diabetics is about four times higher than in healthy individuals because of the greater susceptibility of diabetics to infection. In addition, periodontal disease can make it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Periodontal disease increases the concentration of blood glucose and increases the duration of hyperglycemia, which is detrimental to the control of blood glucose and the development of infections in diabetic patients. Arthritis and periodontal disease: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have about twice the normal rate of periodontal disease and a higher degree of alveolar bone destruction, with an average of 11.6 teeth extracted compared to 6.7 in the general population. This phenomenon is mainly due to the similarity of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which are associated with chronic inflammation and immune response. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the cells of the joints and eventually the supporting tissues of the joints become insufficient to function properly. In periodontal disease, the inflammation caused by bacteria induces white blood cells to accumulate in the inflamed gums, which in turn stimulates the action of osteoclasts and causes the destruction of periodontal support tissues. Smoking and periodontal disease: Few people know that smoking increases the incidence of oral cancer and periodontal disease. As early as the 1970s, many studies confirmed that smoking is an important factor in the development and progression of periodontal disease. Smoking causes an increase in tartar, and the bacteria on tartar produce toxins that cause chronic inflammation of the gums and damage periodontal tissue. The nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes make it difficult for nutrients and oxygen from the blood to reach periodontal tissues, making the tissues less resistant to foreign bacteria, while wound healing is also affected, making periodontal disease treatment less effective in smokers. As soon as smoking is stopped, the healing ability of periodontal tissues will be gradually restored, so quitting smoking is definitely positive for the treatment of periodontal disease. Preventing periodontal disease and preventing periodontal disease lies in paying attention to maintaining oral hygiene in our daily life, eliminating local irritants, mastering the correct method of brushing and using toothpicks and interdental brushes in a reasonable manner. To maintain oral hygiene, we should develop a good habit of brushing. Brushing can eliminate food debris, soft scale, and white plaque on some of the tooth surfaces in the mouth. However, in daily life some people do not have a good method of brushing, thinking that a few mechanical brushes are enough. Some people are also accustomed to the horizontal brushing method, which not only does not clean the teeth, but also damages the tooth body and periodontal tissue. We have to use the longitudinal brushing method, brush vertically up and down along the gap, that can achieve the purpose of removing food residues and massaging the gums. Regular oral cleaning is a good way to remove tartar and prevent plaque adhesion, about once every six months.