subject: Cure for Gum Disease is Simple and Cheap! [print this page] If people would just take care of their teeth, this dentist doesn't have to work until morning in search for a remedy for this disease. The dentist says that 28 million people in the United States suffer from advanced periodontitis or gum disease. During the prime of life, a number of these persons will lose healthy and undecayed teeth because of this disease. Based on the University of Washington's center for research in oral biology, spending $5 billion a year on dental purposes alone clearly shows that Americans are affected by this disease even if it is not fatal.
Research in electrical engineering and biochemistry as well as medicine and dentistry studies include the interdisciplinary fight against gum disease. Having said these, the best way to maintain a healthy set of teeth is still the traditional brushing and flossing regularly. Collagen is the tissue which connects the teeth to the bone. If the wirelike protein called collagen is disturbed, a person will develop plaque and will eventually lose teeth.
99 percent of microorganisms or bugs consist of plaque. As a result, it induces inflammation of the gums and the supporting structure beneath. Bacteria develop on the surface of the teeth and soon act as colonizers if proper brushing and flossing of the teeth is not practiced. The research goes on and the public's demand for a miracle increases just because a lot of people won't brush their teeth. But good news from Europe came about a mouthwash which could prevent plaque build up by killing bacteria.
According to the dentist, it was in World War II when the British used bactericide chlorohexidine to cleanse surgical equipment. It actually worked as a mouthwash, but still with a few drawbacks when it was applied by a Danish scientist. It was dreadful and exciting at the same time for this drug leaves the teeth black after a while. It also causes a temporary loss of taste, he said.
Those effects are nothing compared to a more serious problem that the structure of this molecule brings which is the possibility of developing cancer. Quite a breaking news because drugs with the same structure as this has been safe for humans and animals for a long period of time. And yet, that drug brings another problem. It can cleanse your mouth too much.
In an unrealistic way, think that sterilizing and killing all the bugs in your mouth is possible. These bugs that you try to kill live in our entire gastrointestinal tract. These bugs help in digestion and are very important because they metabolize the human system and produce Vitamin K.
Would it have a good or bad effect if we could have a drug that selectively kills plaque forming bacteria? I personally will put my dollar on bacteria outsmarting drugs. Actually, people ignore almost all gum diseases. Simply brushing the teeth will work if they only do it. If they observe proper brushing, the disease could be cured. But I don't think the public will actually do something about it.
