About 80 percent of U.S. adults currently have some form of the disease. It ranges from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to serious disease that results in damage to the bone.
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Gum disease - also known as periodontal disease - is one of the most common infections - affecting up to 40 per cent of the world's adult population. It is often more prevalent than the common cold. Common signs of gum disease include bleeding gums or pus between the teeth. Left untreated, this chronic infection can destroy the bone that supports the teeth and may lead to tooth loss.
Gums that recede to expose the root surfaces of teeth is a common condition in adults over the age of 40. Many consider it to be just a sign of aging, and in some cases it is essentially that — often the result of wear and tear or years of aggressive tooth brushing. However, sometimes receding gums can be a sign of something more.
Research continues to suggest the importance of periodontal health as related to cardiovascular health
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Scientists at University College London (UCL) have conducted the first clinical trial to demonstrate that an intensive treatment for periodontitis (gum disease) directly improves the health of blood vessels. This study, conducted in conjunction with Professor Maurizio Tonetti (University of Connecticut, USA), and reported in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, may have relevance for the prevention of heart attacks and stroke.