Posts Tagged ‘periodontitis’

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.