Principles of Dental Hygiene II
Professor Willis
Research Paper
Stress, dieting and periodontal disease and to compromised systemic health. Stress, dieting, cultural diversity, foundation of health and periodontal disease: The average person would never think that all four of these topics would coincide with one another. They do, each affecting the other as stepping stones towards periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, including periodontitis and gingivitis, are chronic, bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium (tissues that support the teeth). Periodontal diseases are the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The periodontium is a complex, highly specialized, shock-absorbing and pressure-sensing system consisting of four interrelated tissues supporting the teeth: cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and junctional and sulcular epithelia (1). Periodontal disease can affect one or many teeth. It can also lead to progressive bone loss around teeth, which can lead to loosening and possible loss of the teeth if left untreated. There are many factors to periodontal disease that have been proven to be directly related to this growing disease, in certain populations and cultures that have been proven to stand out more than others. Through research and advanced studies with guidelines of evaluation, stress and dieting has been shown to be associated with periodontal disease(2). These additional factors involve diet, lifestyle, cultures, also including collective types of strains in ones everyday life. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth. These infections are associated with specific pathogenic bacteria that colonize the subgingival area. When the teeth are being supported by the gingiva; the gingiva does not attach to the tooth firmly as one might think. Part of the tooth’s anatomy consists of a