Posts Tagged ‘periodontal disease’

Periodontal disease is common to people who are heavy smokers and alcoholic drinkers.  It is also common to under nourished individuals.  However there are medical conditions that let them have gum disease as part and parcel of the existing state of their health.  These conditions are but not limited to declining immunity (AIDS/HIV, leukemia), hormonal change in pregnant and women in their menopausal stage, and diabetes.  And of course the main culprit of gum disease is poor oral hygiene.

Oral hygiene more often than not gets to the bottom of the to-do list.  Perhaps most people are contented with brushing their teeth just once daily while some may not even bother with it.  Proper brushing will keep your mouth clean.  Avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes as this may graze the gum lining unnecessarily that may result to bleeding of gums.  Floss before or after brushing, depending on your preference, to remove plaque and food particles lodged between hard to reach recesses of the mouth.  Then rinse off with a mouth wash void of alcohol.

Foods that are packed with sugar and its substitute, carbo-loaded foods, carbonated soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices and candies are to be avoided to reduce chances of tooth decay.  But then again, if cannot be avoided, follow it up with the proper oral hygiene.  Nourish yourself with foods rich in vitamin C, omega-3 essential fatty acids, fibrous foods, and dairy products with probiotics, among other fare.  Intake of caffeine should be in moderation as excess may lead to dry mouth which in turn results to tooth decay.

We can fight periodontitis if we know how to take care of our oral cavity and our health in general.  If we have a weak immune system, we become susceptible to bacterial attacks and this includes our mouth.   High level of stress in our system also poses a higher risk of getting infected with gum disease.  Lack of sleep makes you vulnerable to these microbe invasions, as well.

Seek out medical assistance for the appropriate periodontitis treatment.  You may perhaps run on home remedies however it is best that you get the first available appointment you can make to your dentist for a more thorough evaluation.  They have the equipment and expertise to recommend the best way of curing gum disease.  Procedures may be uncomfortable however the paramount goal is to get rid of the bacteria invading the oral cavity and get back to healthy pink gums without any issues at all.

Alternatively known as gum disease, periodontal disease is the infection of the tissues and bone around the tooth.  It is one of the most common medical and dental conditions, suffered by about 1/3 of adults every year.  If left untreated, it can lead to tooth decay and eventually, teeth loss.  It could also lead to other serious ailments, such as renal failure, heart disease and stroke.  But as prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the cliché goes, knowing what causes gum disease can help you steer clear of periodontal disease and its devastating effects on your oral and physical health.

So how does one get periodontal disease?  There are a lot of factors contributing to the development of periodontal disease, but plaque build-up tops the list.  Plaque is the sticky white film which forms on your teeth and the crevices between your gums and teeth.  This substance comes from the food we eat and provide a perfect environment for bacteria to flourish and wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.  Regular flossing and brushing can lessen, if not totally eliminate the chances of plaque build-up.  Otherwise, plaque build-up will harden up and develop into “calculus” or “tartar”, wreaking more havoc in your oral cavity.

“Tartar” is the calcified version of plaque.  This provides an even better environment for bacteria to thrive in.  This build-up will lead to serious dental conditions, such as periodontitis if not treated right away.  However, brushing and flossing alone will not be able to remove tartar build-up.  Depending on the severity of the tartar buildup, it may require professional cleaning such as root scaling and planing to remove the tartar build-up which has developed on your teeth and the gaps between the gum cavity and the teeth.  These are often expensive procedures which could be prevented with regular brushing and flossing.

If you do not want to spend extra on expensive periodontal disease treatment and procedures, you must maintain good oral hygiene practices.  Regular brushing and flossing can prevent plaque and tartar build-up, but you also need to complement it with an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash to remove the germs left behind by brushing and flossing.  Your diet, too, can help prevent periodontal diseases.  Cutting back on sugar can help reduce plaque and tartar build-up as bacteria thrive on sugar.  Eating food rich in calcium, vitamin C and other minerals can strengthen your teeth and gums, thus impeding tooth and gum decay.  Lastly, it is also important to take regular trips to the dentist for professional cleaning and check-ups to keep plaque and tartar build-up at bay and steer you away from the devastating effects of periodontal disease.

Gum disease has been known to affect a majority of adults in the US and surprisingly, a majority of these people have little or no knowledge about gum diseases. Fortunately, you don’t have to know everything about it as you only need to know one set of methods: preventing gum disease. It doesn’t take much and you may already be doing it but just in case you need a quick review, here are the things you need to do to prevent periodontal disease.

Eat the right food
This is pretty basic but the general rule is to avoid sugary and starchy food as much as possible. You may eat the occasional cake but having it for every meal is just asking for trouble. If you’re asking what type of food to eat, the answer lies with fruits – particularly ones that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C has been known to play a hand in the immune system as well as a vital part of recovery for damaged gums. So an apple a day, or even make that an orange has never been a bad idea.

Brush your teeth and floss
As simple as it sounds, not many people know how to properly brush and floss. If that includes you, here’s a quick rundown: brushing should be done using the “three rule” which means brushing your teeth three times a day, three minutes each time. This should be done in a smooth, circular manner using a soft bristle toothbrush – hard toothbrushes can damage the gums and may lead to gum recession. Additionally, flossing requires being done gently as it could damage the gums as well. Doing so is just as important as brushing as flossing gets rid of the food debris in between the teeth that can’t be reached through brushing.

Mouth rinse
This is optional but if you need that extra antiseptic protection, get an antibacterial mouthwash and use it daily. This gets rid of bacteria that may cause periodontal disease and oftentimes give a fresh, menthol scent for your breath. There are also certain kinds of dentist prescribed gums that you may look up – they have similar effects to mouthwashes and are good for your gums.

Visit your dentist
Even if you think you’re already doing a great job maintaining good dental health, you still need to visit your dentist for your regular checkup as you might be missing something or you might need additional cleaning. Do this every 6 months along with the previous methods and you’ll be on your way to a gum and periodontal disease free life.

Periondontal disease is another name for gum disease.  It is an infection of the gums wherein during the initial phase the tissue become inflamed and swollen due to plaque buildup on teeth. When the gums are swollen it results to open spaces for more bacteria build up which causes more plaque and severe symptoms such as bad breath, bleeding gums, receding gums, tenderness and moreover pain to occur.

So how can you stop periodontal disease naturally?  Though there are effective periodontal disease remedies and treatment of periodontal disease available out there yet addressing health and nutrition can help heal gum disease.

You need to be aware that periodontal disease symptoms are actually sign of poor dental care or poor dental condition or even both. Smoking, drinking alcohol, chronic illness and the intake of soft foods are other factors which can lead to gum disease.

One effective method for treating periodontal disease is the intake of natural supplements.  These are effective treatment of periodontal disease because most nutritional deficiencies are often linked to this condition.  Poor gum health is actually caused by lack of vitamin C, calcium, folic acid and bioflavonoids.  Aside from that, nutrients help speed up healing, increase blood circulation and tissue repair.

Did you know that Vitamin C with bioflavonoids promote healing? And bioflavonoids hamper the growth of plaque.  Vitamin E is found effective in terms of healing of gum tissue while Calcium and Magnesium prevents bone loss.

Same with taking supplements, having a balanced diet is also important. See to it that your diet is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.   Some fruits and vegetables are found to help clean teeth naturally and exercise the gums like raw apples, carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, green leafy vegetables and cucumbers. Green tea, cashews and cranberries also help stop plaque from sticking to teeth.  Avoid foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates as they contribute to plaque growth while try to increase consumption of whole grain fibers, legumes and raw nuts.

Herbs can promote natural healing of gums.  Sage, clove, thyme can safely and effectively be used as herbal rinses.  Sage is a great way to reduce inflammation while Thyme and clove are powerful antiseptics. Chamomile tea is another gentle and helpful herbal remedy that soothes pain and inflammation while cleansing the mouth.

Though addressing nutritional needs and using herbs for natural healing are effective in preventing periodontal disease, it is also vital to take steps to improve dental health.  Here are the basic yet effective ways to improve dental health:

• Massage gums everyday to increase flow of blood.
• Brush your teeth every after a meal with a clean toothbrush and all natural toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth at least once day.
• Use tongue cleaner or scaper to eliminate bacteria from tongue every day after brushing.
• Rinse your mouth with natural mouthwashes like OraMD to clean your mouth and prevent plaque from accumulating on teeth.

Yes, it is possible to stop periodontal disease naturally.  But make sure that you pay your dentist a visit on a regular basis as severe cases of gum disease may require dental surgery.