Periodontitis

Overview

Periodontitis (pronounced “peh-ree-uh-don-TIE-tus”) is a form of gum disease. It’s a bacterial infection that causes your gums to bleed and swell. Eventually, it can damage the bone that supports your teeth, leading to wiggly teeth and tooth loss.

Periodontitis is more likely to happen as you age. It’s most common in people over 30. Still, it can affect anyone with poor oral hygiene. Some people are also more genetically prone to periodontitis than others. If your biological parents or grandparents have a history of gum disease, you’re more likely to develop it as well.

Healthcare providers classify periodontitis as mild, moderate or severe. They base this on how much bone you’ve lost around each tooth and on how much inflammation you have in your gums. There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments that can help treat this oral infection and keep your gums healthy.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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