subject: Protecting Your Teeth And Gums From Periodontal Disease [print this page] How to protect your teeth and gumsHow to protect your teeth and gums. Are you one of the millions of people who have periodontal disease, and you don't even know it? Periodontal disease is a type of infection that affects the supporting tissues surrounding your teeth. The major cause of this comes from plaque-forming bacteria in your mouth. You can remove a lot of plaque by regular brushing and flossing, but eliminating all of it is not possible outside a dentist's office. The plaque residue that is left behind hardens and becomes tartar. A buildup of tartar that collects under the gums can cause serious irritation and even lead to infection, which opens the door to gum disease.
Periodontal disease, however, is 100% preventable. You can avoid periodontal disease with the proper precautions. As the Pennsylvania Dental Association keeps reminding the public, it is very important to maintain both healthy teeth and gums. Periodontal disease is distinguished by two stages: 1)gingivitis and 2)periodontis. The early stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis; it is during this time that bacteria gets in between the teeth and gums which in turn causes inflammation. At the gingivitis stage, everything is still reversible. With regular brushing and flossing, periodontal disease can be avoided. The advanced stage of gum disease is called periodontitis, which develops when periodontal disease is ignored and worsens to the point of irreversibly damaging teeth, gums, and bone structure.
Periodontitis is regarded as a serious medical condition due to its ability to destroy the tissue that connects the teeth to the bone. If this develops, the roots of the teeth will be exposed, which ultimately leads to serious tooth decay, inflammation and receding of the gums, and in some cases, tooth loss. Many factors, such as tobacco use, can also lead to an increased chance of one eventually developing periodontal disease. You should also be careful if you have certain systematic diseases like diabetes, or take certain medications like steroids and anti epilepsy drugs, cancer drugs, calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives. Not to mention having a bridge that no longer fits correctly, crooked teeth, defective fillings, and even pregnancy.
A DDS and expert on the subject states that research has revealed those suffering from periodontal disease to be nearly two times as susceptible to developing heart disease. The prevailing wisdom is that bacteria in your mouth impacts your heart via the blood stream. Once it gains entry, it connects with fatty plaques in the heart's blood vessels. This agitates clot formation. Want to protect your dental health? Do you want to safeguard against periodontal disease? First, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. This is important because after you remove food from the surface of teeth by brushing, flossing removes other residue from areas that a toothbrush can't reach.
You should also get a new toothbrush when the one you're using becomes frayed, usually every few months. Using a fluoride toothpaste plus an antibacterial mouth rinse will also give you the upper edge on fighting tooth decay and disease. Make sure to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet. Every day, plan meals that use foods from the five food groups: grain, dairy, fruit, vegetables, meat and poultry. Even more important is visiting your dentist twice a year for your oral health checkups and a professional cleaning.
If you note any symptoms of periodontal disease in the interim, call your dentist right away. Keep this list of periodontal disease symptoms handy: gums that often bleed or are receding, regular bad taste in the mouth or halitosis, loose or moving permanent teeth, red, tender, or puffy gums, the appearance of pus between gums and teeth when pressure is applied to gums, changes in bite and alignment of teeth, and changes in the fit of dentures that once fit correctly.
