Ever seen someone smiling at you with beautiful
white teeth, supported with a splash of bright pink gums? Most people are
concerned about their appearance, so they take real good care about their
teeth. But what they fail to realize is that beneath those strong white tusks
of theirs lies a supporting structure that holds their teeth in place, allowing
them to be used for chewing efficiently. These supporting structures serves as
pillars to the whole dentition structure in the mouth, just as how tall skyscrapers
are supported by strong pilling underneath them. The fundamentals to a good
oral hygiene and healthy teeth starts from your gums. Your bone and gum tissue
should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. They
provide comfort, shelter and a cozy home for your teeth to live in. It is a
very peaceful and harmonious neighbourhood providing a soft cushion blanket
around your teeth.
HOWEVER ... when we have gum disease, this soft
cushion around your teeth becomes painful and red. It will cause discomfort to
your teeth and if not treated, this lovely comfortable home for your teeth
might get jeopardized. This is brought upon by destruction of the underlying
supporting tissue and bone , forming "pockets" around the teeth. What
was once a beautiful home is now a wrecked warzone with disease and dead cells.
But it does not stop there. Over time, these
pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As
bacteria develop around the teeth, they can accumulate and advance under the
gum tissue. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further
bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need
to be extracted. So much for the beautiful white teeth we were safeguarding all
this while.
Now that I have got your attention regarding
healthy gums, let us discover what gum disease is all about and why does it
happen. There are many kinds of gum disease. Knowing what they are and their
underlying causes might help us understand gum disease better. The mouth is a
very complex structure, it comprises of both hard and soft tissue supporting
each other in an equilibrium. The fundamentals of healthy gums is keeping a
good oral hygiene and preventing the formation of calculus ( hardened, calcified
food, a.k.a. Plaque ). Accumulation of plaque, a sticky soft layer of slough
over tooth surface, usually approximated close to the gums (cervical area) over
a period of time could cause swelling of the gums. That is the primary
indication of a gum disease. The 1st type of gum disease is Gingivitis.
GINGIVITIS simply means inflammation of the
gums, ( gingiva - gums, itis - inflammation ). It is the mildest form of
periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed
easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is
often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Good news is Gingivitis is reversible
with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Factors that may contribute to gingivitis
include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases
and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations,
pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.
If gingivitis it's left untreated and persevered over a period of time, it will
deteriorate and affect the underlying supporting tissues-causing periodontitis. Periodontitis ( peri -
around, odonto - dental tissues, itis - inflammation ) is an inflammation and
destruction process of the periodontium tissue, such as the cementum (overlying
structure that protects the roots), the alveolar bone (base that the tooth sits
on-the bone socket), the periodontium ligament ( tissue fibers holding the
tooth in its place, prevent a tooth from dislodging or moving on an otherwise
healthy tooth, also known as the shock absorbers to reduce impact on the tooth
) , and finally the gingiva ( gums ). Any destruction to these tissues could
result in mobility of the tooth, gum recession-leading to sensitive teeth,
tooth ache-due to bacteria colonies brooding in the calculus, causing pain due
to the inflamed supporting tissues, bleeding of gums during brushing, and
leakage of the seal between the oral environment filled bacterias and the
sterile tip of the root, resulting in abcess formation. Periodontitis is a result of a longstanding gingivitis that is left
untreated. It all starts of with poor oral hygiene, where bacteri colonies
start to dwell within the gums, causing minor swelling on your gums.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS ???
It is very important to identify the
predisposing factors for gum diseases. Elimination of the source of infection
is better than treating it. Get to know your risk factors.
1. Hormonal changes in girls/women. These changes can make
gums more sensitive and make it easier
for gingivitis to develop.
2. Diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk for
developing
infections, including gum disease.
3. Other illnesses. Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their
treatments can
also negatively affect the health of gums.
4. Medications. There are hundreds of prescription and over
the counter
medications that can reduce the flow of saliva,
which has a protective effect on the mouth. Without enough saliva, the mouth is
vulnerable to infections such as gum disease. And some medicines can cause
abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep teeth
and gums clean.
5. Genetic susceptibility. Some people are more prone to
severe gum
disease than others. Back to top Who gets gum
disease? People usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their
30s or 40s. Men are more likely to have gum disease than women. Although
teenagers rarely develop periodontitis, they can develop gingivitis, the milder
form of gum disease. Most commonly, gum disease develops when plaque is allowed
to build up along and under the gum line.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE GUM DISEASE?
Symptoms of gum disease include:
1. Bad breath that won’t go away
2. Red or swollen gums
3. Tender or bleeding gums
4. Painful chewing
5. Loose teeth
6. Sensitive teeth
7. Receding gums or longer appearing teeth
More teeth are lost through gum disease than
through tooth decay. Gum disease is likely to strike anyone who neglects oral
hygiene or eats a poor diet. Particularly at risk are people with alcoholism,
malnutrition, or AIDS/HIV infection or who are being treated with steroid drugs
or certain cancer chemotherapies. Regular brushing and flossing help to prevent
puffy, sore, and inflamed gums. It is important to know when to expect gum
problems if we understand the causative factors. We have to first rule out the
involvement of any sistemic disease that could possibly cause the gum
condition. This can be achieved by a good history taking and clinical examination,
followed by blood tests, histopathological examination of biopsy, and medical
consultation.
Well, this introduction to GUM DISEASE is to
educate us all about the heritage we own and how important it is to maintain
and preserve it. There is much more to the gums and teeth than we think we
know. This is yet merely tapping into the depth of dental science, of which we
should be aware of. In the next volume, I shall discuss further about the types
of gum diseases, the cause and impact on an individual, and also the solutions
available to curb this disease.
However, the basic remedy to a healthy gum and
teeth are to :-
1. BRUSH
2. FLOSS
3. USE MOUTHRINSE
4. REGULAR VISITS TO YOUR DENTIST FOR SCALING&POLISHING
5.
EAT RIGHT – a healthy diet
always brings about positive results to the body !
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