Oral health and periodontitis: why should we care?

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by symptoms such as bleeding gums and bad breath. Severe periodontal disease is associated with systemic diseases. Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels and can cause oral manifestations such as dry mouth, burning and susceptibility to candidal infections. There is a reciprocal relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. Various diseases such as hypertension, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease are also associated with oral health. Periodontal treatment can play an important role in the management of these diseases.