Archive for the ‘Gum Disease’ Category

If you have been anywhere near a television set or a radio anytime in the past several years, chances are that you are well aware of just what the effects of smoking are. It can cause heart disease, stroke, and there is a strong link to cancer as well.

The link between smoking and your health doesn’t end there; it has been known to contribute to the development of gum disease in adults, as well. As you may know, gum disease is the primary cause of the loss of teeth in adults, and there are numerous things that have the potential to contribute to the development of this debilitating disease.

There are a few reasons why smoking and gum disease just don’t go together. First off, the nicotine in tobacco as well as the smoke produced from it both has the ability to prevent the body from being able to properly fight an infection. The lower resistance to infection is what causes the gum disease to be more of a possibility; the immune system has a much higher chance of fighting off the disease in those who do not smoke cigarettes.

In addition, they can cause the blood vessels around the gums and teeth to constrict, which can be painful. In essence, a smoker’s mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria that contribute to periodontal disease.

A great deal of research has been done into the links between smoking and oral health, and those studies have shown a positive link between the two. People who smoke have the single highest possibility of acquiring gum disease during their lifetime. Even those who smoke and quit have a substantially smaller possibility of suffering from gum disease.

Talk to your dentist about the link between smoking and your oral health. They may be able to give you some advice and some statistics that can encourage you to quit smoking. While you might have realized the link between your bodily health and smoking, the link between smoking and gum disease is something that many people have failed to realize.

If you find that you are developing dental problems and you smoke cigarettes, quitting that habit could have more of a positive effect on your mouth than you might think. Gum disease develops in stages, and as the stages progress the condition becomes progressively worse. Ultimately, periodontal disease could cause you to lose your teeth; is a cigarette every once in a while worth your smile?

Most people are aware that gum disease is a serious issue with people. It is all too easy to fall into poor oral care habits, and gum disease is a natural result of that. As a child, you might learn at school how important it is to brush and floss properly but seeing a dentist is equally important.

As periodontal disease progresses its effects also get progressively worse. The gums become infected and teeth get looser; this is when the risk of losing teeth becomes an issue. If caught early enough, gum disease can be treated and the effects can be reversed.

There is much more to the issue of gum disease than your teeth; those who suffer from dental problems also run a higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks. There has even been evidence that gum disease can make a person more prone to heart burn, random allergies, and even colds.

While many people disregard the important link between oral and bodily health, there is no question that the two are closely related. The mouth is a direct link to the inside of the body; infections in the mouth and poor oral health are bound to have a negative effect on a person’s overall quality of health.

Those who find that they are getting sick more than usual or seem to have one of those never-ending colds might benefit from a good oral health regimen. Having the teeth and gums cleaned thoroughly by a dentist, seeing one twice a year, and practicing practical oral health care techniques at home can help a great deal in improving the overall quality of dental health and your health.

Once gum disease hits, those afflicted usually find that they have a whole host of other health issues as well. The good news is that gum disease can be reversed. There are numerous products out there that are known to help with the reversal of the effects of gum disease on the teeth and gums.

There are also things that you can do to ease the symptoms of periodontal diseased, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a good antibacterial mouthwash. Good dental habits are a way of life that must be adopted.

Gum diseases can be categorized into two broad groups, namely gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingivae (gums) in all age ranges but manifests more frequently in children and young adults.

Periodontitis is an inflammation with subsequent destruction of the other tooth-supporting structures, namely the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum and subsequent loss of teeth. This condition mainly manifests in early middle age with severity increasing in the elderly.

Gingivitis can or may progress to periodontitis state in an individual.

Gum diseases have been found to be one of the most widespread chronic diseases the world over with a prevalence of between 90 and 100 per cent in adults over 35 years of age in developing countries. It has also been shown to be the main cause of tooth loss in individuals 40 years and above.

Bad breath is one of the major consequences of gum diseases.

Some of the terms that are greatly associated with bad breath and gum diseases are as follows:

Dental Plaque- The essential requirement for the prevention and treatment of a disease is an understanding of its causes. The primary cause of gum diseases is bacteria, which form a complex on the tooth surface known as plaque. These bacteria’s are the root cause of bad breath.

Dental plaque is bacterial accumulations on the teeth or other solid oral structures. When it is of sufficient thickness, it appears as a whitish, yellowish layer mainly along the gum margins on the tooth surface. Its presence can also be discerned by a conventional dye or fluorescent dye (demonstrated by illumination with ultraviolet light), disclosing solution or by scraping the tooth surface along the gum margins.

When plaque is examined under the microscope, it reveals a multitude of different types of bacteria. Some desquamated oral epithelial cells and white blood cells may also be present. The micro-organisms detected vary according to the site where they are present.
There are gram positive and gram negative organisms, filamentous and flagellated organisms, spirochetes and sometimes even small numbers of even yeasts, mycoplasma and protozoa.

Clean tooth surfaces after brushing are normally covered by a thin layer of glycoproteins from saliva called pellicle. Pellicle allows for the selective adherence of bacteria to the tooth surface.

During the first few hours, the bacteria proliferate to form colonies. In addition, other organisms will also populate the pellicle from adjacent areas to form a complex accumulation of mixed colonies. The material present between the bacteria is called intermicrobial matrix forming about 25 per cent of the plaque volume. This matrix is mainly extra cellular carbohydrate polymers produced by the bacteria from dietary sugars; salivary and gingival fluid components; and dying and dead bacteria.

Small amounts of plaque are compatible with gingival or periodontal health. Some people can resist larger amounts of plaque for long periods without developing destructive periodontitis (inflammation and destruction of the supporting tissues) although they will exhibit gingivitis (inflammation of the gums or gingiva).

Diet And Plaque Formation- Diet may play an important part in plaque formation by modifying the amount and composition of plaque. More the plaque formation would be, there will be more bad breath.

Fermentable sugars increase plaque formation because they provide additional energy supply for bacterial metabolism and also provide the raw materials (substrate) for the production of extra cellular polysaccharides.

Secondary Factors

Although plaque is the primary cause of gum diseases, a number of others regarded as secondary factors, local and systemic, predispose towards plaque accumulation or alter the response of gum tissue to plaque. The local factors are:

1) Cavities in the teeth;

2) Faulty fillings;

3) Food impaction;

4) Poorly designed partial dentures (false teeth);

5) Orthodontic appliances;

6) Misaligned teeth;

7) mouth-breathing

Grooves on teeth or roots near gum margins;

9) Reduced salivary flow; and,

10) Tobacco smoking.

The systemic factors which potentially affect the gum tissues are:

1) Systemic diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, Down’s syndrome, AIDS, blood disorders and others;

2) Hormonal changes – during puberty, pregnancy, contraceptives intake and menopause;

3) Drug reactions, e.g. immunosuppressive drugs, antihypertensive drugs and antiepileptic drugs; and,

4) Dietary and nutritional factors, e.g. protein deficiency and vitamin C and B deficiency.

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Have you ever attempted to remove a screw without a screwdriver? Maybe you have tried to collect leaves without a rake or change a car’s tire with a less-than-adequate jack? Without the right tools, it can be really hard to get a job done properly and efficiently. It might even be impossible to do the job at all.

When it comes to oral health and fighting gum disease, the same concept applies. Manually brushing and flossing are not always potent enough for preventing gum disease and are perhaps even less sufficient for stopping an existing case. However, brushing and flossing can help and are still very important for oral health.

I was told at my dentist’s office that I had lost some of the bone structure supporting my teeth due to moderate gum disease. This was shocking to me because I didn’t know I had gum disease in the first place.

Like many people, I thought that it was no big deal if my gums bled slightly when brushing or flossing. I was certainly wrong about that. Bleeding gums, even a little bit, is a prime sign of gum disease.

I was told that I needed a special treatment. They wanted to dig under my gums to get rid of built up tartar and plaque. That sounded both painful and expensive to me. Worse, they wanted to start immediately.

There wasn’t much time to think. I decided that I would hold off on the treatment and do a little research on my own. One of the major dangers of having gum disease is that you can lose your teeth. Therefore, I was highly motivated to find answers that made sense to me.

In the process of my research, I stumbled across the hydrofloss. I decided to get one and see what kind of results I could obtain. I found that the the hydrofloss is a wonderful tool for cleaning around the neck of the teeth where the gumline is.

Using the hydrofloss was a major step towards progress. Yet, on its own it didn’t seem like it was enough to completely change the health of my gum tissue. So I added another item to the mix.

Between these two tools, I have found a method that allowed me to stop the progression of gum disease and prevent its return. The proof came when I returned to the dentist’s office. I was told that I no longer needed the ‘root scaling and planing’. The tarter build up was no longer below the gum line.

On subsequent visits it was clear that my gum tissue was getting healthier and healthier. I don’t have bleeding anymore even when the hygienist used a metal probe to check the health of my gums.

You could say that I am absolutely delighted at the results!

My personal experience with gum disease motivated me to discover a way to fight it without expensive treatments. I found that gum disease is a very common problem, not only in humans but also in domesticated pets.

Did you know that most people are likely to experience gingivitis or gum disease at some point in their lives? This makes sense when you really think about it. The mouth becomes really dirty from eating. It is not easy to keep your teeth and gums clean. Only about two percent of people seem to have a natural immunity to gum disease.

If you look at your mouth carefully after a meal you’ll see exactly what I mean. You may notice food stuck in your teeth and mashed up against the gums. This debris needs to be routinely removed from the mouth. Brushing and flossing alone are not necessarily enough to keep plaque from forming.

Plaque is a nasty, thin but sticky film that allows anaerobic bacteria to be trapped between itself and the hard surface of your tooth. In this environment, the bacteria can thrive. If the plaque hardens into tartar then it provides an even better place for these bacteria to live and begin the process of destroying both teeth and gums. Therefore, it is important to make sure that this layer of plaque doesn’t get to develop.

Some say that once tartar forms, the only way to get it off is via a professional dental cleaning. The rate of tartar formation varies from one person to another. It can form fairly quickly in some people and less so in others.

I prefer to sidestep the question of whether tartar can only be removed by a professional cleaning or not. However, I think it is reasonable to believe this under normal conditions when only brushing and flossing are utilized for oral health and maintenance.

Frankly, gum disease is a terrible thing when you really think about it. If allowed to progress it may cause a person to lose his teeth. Depending on whom you believe, the problems may not stop there. The presence of gum disease may also allow bacteria to invade the blood stream. There is still debate, but there are credentialed professionals who believe this to be true. The founder of the Mayo clinic said that the loss of a person’s teeth could take ten years off one’s lifespan.

Generally speaking, the public is not well educated about gum disease, what it can do and how serious it is. Often times, people do not become aware of the disease until bone and tissue loss have already occurred. By then it might be time for expensive treatments to correct the damage.

Why let things get to that point? As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Become educated about this ’silent epidemic’ and take steps to protect yourself and your family.

If you have or think you have gum disease, gingivitis or any other health problem be sure to visit your dentist or doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support your teeth. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque which is made up of the food that you eat and the bacteria that resides in your mouth. This sticky plaque forms on the teeth. If the bacterial plaque is not removed by brushing, flossing and regular dental cleanings the gums become infected and inflamed.

Current research suggests that there may be a link between periodontal disease and other diseases that affect the entire body. Studies have found links between periodontal disease and heart problems, stroke, stomach problems, diabetes and pregnancy.

The bacteria in plaque that builds up between the teeth and gums can enter into the bloodstream. These bacteria can then travel throughout the body and cause serious health problems.

Periodontal disease has been linked to an increase risk of developing heart disease. Bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream when the gums are inflamed. There they can get mixed up with blood clotting cells called platelets. These clumps of cells and bacteria can lodge inside the walls of the blood vessels, causing heart stopping clots to form. These clots lead to heart disease. Keeping your gums healthy can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

An increase risk of developing a stroke has also been linked to periodontal disease. A new study about fatty deposits lodged in the carotid arteries of stroke suffers shows that, if the gums are inflamed, up to 40% of the bacteria that cause the deposits come from the mouth.

Ulcers in the stomach are often attributed to bacterial infections in the stomach lining. The bacteria that collect in your mouth, when periodontal disease is present, are some same bacteria that cause gastric ulcers. If the bacterial count in the mouth is high then these bacteria continuously travel to the stomach, causing reinfection and a return of the ulcers.

Diabetic problems and periodontal disease problems are closely intertwined. The presence of any gum inflammation can make it much more difficult for a diabetic to control their blood sugar. Also, high blood glucose (blood sugar) encourages and helps the bacteria in plaque to grow. Elimination of any gum inflammation can directly improve diabetic control.

Periodontal disease can also cause problems for pregnant women and their developing child. Pregnant women with gum disease are seven to eight times more likely to give birth prematurely to low birth weight infants. Researchers believe that low grade gum inflammation causes the body to release inflammatory chemicals which are linked to pre-term birth.

To prevent developing periodontal disease and in effect reduce the risk of developing serious systemic diseases it is important to maintain oral health. To keep teeth, bone and gums healthy follow these recommendations:

Brush your teeth well, twice day; floss between teeth everyday; eat a healthy diet and avoid snacks; avoid tobacco and visit your dentist for regular exams and professional cleanings twice a year.

Kasi Franck, DDS

Of course, not every case of bleeding gums is directly related to gum disease. In less common circumstances certain medications, or hormonal changes can cause the gums to become more sensitive to stimulation and the gums may bleed.

The most common reason that the gums bleed for most people is because of gum disease. Also known as gingivitis or periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection of the gums, teeth and in advanced cases, the bones and ligaments that support the jaw. This infection is estimated to affect nearly 80% of Americans at some point during their lifetime.

With changes to your oral care routine, along with regular cleanings and evaluation by a dental professional, the majority of cases of gum disease can be eliminated completely, or at least managed very well.

The cause of gum disease is simple-bacteria. Full of warmth, moisture and an environment full of food to thrive upon, bacteria inside the mouth can reproduce rapidly. Food particles and residue that are left inside our mouths after meals provides optimum opportunity for bacteria to grow out of control and as they grow they release toxins that irritate and inflame the gum line. A bacteria’s preferred food source is in the form of plaque.

Plaque residue forms a sticky and sometimes hard substance on the teeth and around the gum line. Bacteria feed on the plaque and work deep into gum tissues causing irritation, swelling and bleeding gums. This irritation may be painless but where there is bleeding there is most likely an infection that will need to be treated.

See a dentist or periodontist for a proper evaluation and follow their suggestions for treatment. Take steps to further reduce the irritation by avoiding chemical additives in certain types of toothpaste and mouthwash.

These chemicals can cause irritation to the gums and further complicate your problems. Instead, natural alternatives exist in peppermint, spearmint and almond oils. These oils have long been utilized for their natural antibacterial and anti-infective benefits-meaning that they kill germs naturally. Opting away from harsh synthetic chemicals may be a true benefit to your mouth.

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Bad breath is a very common problem which affects around 50% of the population. Having bad breath can have reduce the quality of life, affecting your career, confidence levels and personal relationships. Fortunately, if treated in time, bad breath and gum disease can be cured permanently.

The first step in treating gum disease and bad breath is to have the teeth cleaned professionally by a dentist. This will remove the plague and bacterial deposits on the teeth.

Cleaning the teeth properly takes time, and some dentists are more thorough than others. If you have any signs of gum disease it is vital to make sure you find a dentist who cleans your teeth thoroughly.

If gum decay is more advanced you may be referred to a periodontist, however, most cases of early gum disease can be treated by your dentist and dental hygienist- a person who specializes cleaning teeth. The dental hygienist can perform a procedure called root planning and scaling which may be necessary if you have any signs of early gum disease.

If you have suffered from bad breath and gum disease for some time, then it is possible that your current dentist is not cleaning your teeth thoroughly and you should consider finding a another dentist, preferably one with a dental hygienist.

You may be in the chair for over an hour and up to four hours to get the teeth properly clean and you may need more than one appointment. If you have not cleaned your teeth in a while, it may cost around $200-$1000 to have your teeth cleaned properly.

Do not economize on cleaning your teeth. This is the best thing that you can do for your teeth and gums, and will help prevent more serious dental problems from developing and will therefore save you money in the long term.

Once your teeth have been professionally cleaned, it is important to keep them clean.

Electric toothbrushes make it easy to clean your teeth properly, but only if the brush has the right action. Cheap electric toothbrushes do not clean the teeth thoroughly.

The Oral B Sonic Toothbrush will leave your teeth feeling sparkling clean. The sonic toothbrush is a little more expensive than regular toothbrushes, but definitely worth the money! Invest in a Sonic toothbrush and use it regularly and you will know that your teeth are as clean as they can be.

It is also important to use a good quality toothpaste and mouthwash.

The best product on the market for treating and preventing bad breath and gum disease is Closys. Closys products contain Chlorine dioxide, a powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent. It works by killing the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth that produce the foul smelling volatile sulphur compounds.

Closys toothpaste, mouthwash, and mouth spray are convenient and pleasant to use and they are very effective at controlling or eliminating bad breath and gum disease.

To summarize, here is how to banish bad breath and cure gum disease permanently.

Have your teeth cleaned professionally by your dentist on a regular basis.

Brush teeth thoroughly at least 2 times per day with a good quality electric toothbrush. 

Use a good quality toothpaste and mouthwash such as Closys and floss daily.

You can banish bad breath and cure gum disease permanently by following these recommendations. Expect to see results within 2- 4 weeks; gums will stop bleeding and become healthy, wobbly teeth will become firm again. Bad breath will be eliminated permantly and your confidence well-being will be greatly improved.