Dental Arts & Wellness (Manami Yamaguchi)

Q: What is periodontal disease, the terrifying national disease?

A:　"cerebral hemorrhage," "heart attack," and "pancreatic cancer" are known to be life-threatening, "periodontal disease" is now attracting attention in the medical and dental communities as a "hidden culprit." Periodontal disease begins when bacteria proliferate in the gaps (pockets) between the teeth and gums. To kill these bacteria, white blood cells gather in the pockets and begin to release sterilizing enzymes. As a result, the skin inside the pockets becomes lace-like due to the action of these powerful enzymes. Periodontal bacteria invade the body through these holes and multiply to twice their original number in just a few tens of minutes. Even though the immune system of white blood cells fights them, the bacteria continue to increase. If not treated properly, the inflammatory response in the blood becomes chronic and becomes the root cause of fatal damage to various organs. Periodontal disease is reported to infect 80% of adults in Japan and the United States. Because it is asymptomatic and highly contagious, it is important for the whole family to be vigilant, detect and treat it early, and maintain good health.