A vast body of research supports the association between plaque biofilm and periodontal (gum) disease. Gingivitis, the initial stage of this disease, is a very common condition and is perhaps where the inflammatory story begins.
Gingivitis is estimated to affect more than half of all adults in the UK to some degree and most people experience it at least once (NHS Choices, 2014). If gingivitis is left untreated, periodontitis can develop. In the UK, the Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 (Health and Social Care Information Council, 2011) indicated that 53% of adults had periodontal disease in some form or other.
For a long time, it was thought that bacteria linked periodontal disease to other disease in the body; however, more recent research demonstrates that the inflammatory response may be equally responsible for the association. Therefore, treating inflammation may help with the management of not only periodontal disease but also other long-term inflammatory conditions.
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