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Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease or periodontitis affects the connective tissue that links the teeth to the bone, its main symptom being progressive bone loss. Left untreated, periodontitis leads eventually to the loss of the teeth.
This disease is characterized by massive bacteria growths located either between the teeth or along the gum line. In severe cases, teeth start to become loose, the ultimate consequence being their loss. About 50% of all people over 30 years of age suffer from a mild form of periodontal disease.
Periodontitis, or gum disease, is usually caused by the build up of plaque on the teeth around the gum line. It is sometimes a form of gingivitis that has been advanced, showing gums that are severely inflamed.
Aside from the plaque build up, periodontal disease is usually caused by improper brushing and flossing, smoking, genetic disposition and a number of other factors. If you have someone else in your family who has dealt with gingivitis, the chances are also good that you will be more susceptible to getting it.
Most of the conditions that affect gums and tissues surrounding the teeth are termed as periodontitis. Periodontal diseases cause inflammation around the teeth, and sometimes lead to loss of natural teeth. This condition is mainly caused by bacteria that eat away gums and tissues. The condition can be slowed down by flossing and brushing teeth regularly. It is also advisable that you visit a dentist regularly for specialized help in treating the conditions.
Discussed below are some reasons why you should avoid periodontal disease.
- Leads to loss of natural teeth: Bacteria eats away gums and tissues that hold teeth together, leading to loss of natural teeth. This condition is widespread on persons suffering from anemia too.
- Severe Tooth ache and anemic conditions: As long as the teeth are exposed, the patient is bound to experience regular tooth aches and headaches too.
- Damages blood vessels: Heavy presence of these bacteria forces the body to over-react on the bacterial and tissues around causing increased inflammation. The compound produced during inflammation starts corroding blood vessels within the mouth towards the heart, causing more problems. This may even limit amount of blood getting to the brain or back to the heart.
- Stroke: Stroke is mainly caused when the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen to facilitate respiration for energy production. This condition is as a result of damaged blood vessels due to increased inflammation due to periodontal diseases.
- Diabetes and Arthritis: Medical researchers have linked periodontal and mouth related infections with diabetes. Most of the patients who suffer from gum inflammation have been diagnosed with diabetes or arthritis later on in their lives.
With these not being enough, persons suffering from periodontal diseases have very poor oral hygiene and foul breath. In addition to this, their immunity levels deteriorate with time, making it a hard task to fight most infections.
You can however counter all these by visiting a dentist regularly. Call Island Dental today for a complete periodontal exam: (516) 565-6565.
Are you looking for tips on taking care of your mouth, teeth and gums? If so, you have come to the right place. Taking care of your mouth is important and the article that follows will show you how. Continue reading to learn the best dental health tips out there.
Tip For Brushing Your Teeth
Buy a high-quality toothbrush and replace it frequently. A good toothbrush should be soft especially if your gums bleed while brushing your teeth. Do not keep the same toothbrush for more than a month since bacteria can quickly develop on this object.
Tips For Flossing
Flossing helps remove plaque on and around your gum line and should be performed at least twice daily. When flossing, gently work the dental floss up and down between each tooth. Do not subject your gums to harsh flossing; instead, use a gentle hand and waxed dental floss to help protect your gums.
Special Consideration for Smokers
Stop smoking to improve your dental health. Smoking harms both teeth and gums. It can even discolor your teeth. Smoking disrupts the blood supply to the gums, which makes it harder for them to remain strong and healthy. This reduced blood supply makes it more difficult for dentists to diagnose gum diseases.
Visit Your Dentist Frequently
You should visit your dentist AT LEAST once every 6 months. If you do this your breath will be fresh and clean, your teeth will stay white and gleaming, and your gums won’t bleed when you brush. When you care about your oral health you’ll be repaid in spades.
You only have one mouth and one set of teeth and gums. For this reason it is important that you take care of them and do all you can to keep your mouth healthy. Try out the tips shared here and you can have the healthiest teeth and mouth possible.
For many years medical doctors and dentists have been trying to make the public more aware of the causal connection between oral hygiene and periodontal disease and systemic diseases such as: heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, as well as a host of inflammatory ailments.
Now, a new study from the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry, has found a possible link between gum disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
From an article found in The International News online…
Although past studies have suggested a link between oral health and dementia, this is the first to pinpoint a specific gum disease bacteria in the brain. Researchers looked at donated brain samples of 10 people without dementia and 10 people with dementia.They Antimalware Service Executable found the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of four of those with dementia. This bacteria may play a role in changes in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease, contributing to symptoms including confusion and failing memory.
Now that you know just how important it is to take care of your teeth why not call us to make an appointment for you next dental visit? Call us today at (516) 565-6565.
