PERIODONTAL DISEASE:
If you Don’t Know, you Might Have it.
March 7th, 2005
By Sal Roach
When you were a child you used your teeth to unscrew bottle caps and
tear open bags. As you aged, what was once strong and powerful now is
tender and apt to bleeding.
Have you really been taking care of the inside of your mouth over
the years?
While many of use concentrate on keeping our teeth clean for cosmetic
reasons, it is the gums that are often neglected to the point of needing
costly and painful surgery. Ever heard of Periodontal Disease?
More commonly referred to as Pyorrhea, it is the leading cause of gum
infections and losses of teeth as you move past your 40’s and
into the second stage of your life.
Periodontal Disease occurs when your gums start to deteriorate, which
leaves the bones of your teeth unprotected and subject to infection,
rotting, and ultimately, complete loss. Unless apple sauce and yogurt
look appealing to you, you need to step up right now and start taking
preventative measures against this disease. Once infection sets in, it
can be extremely difficult to reverse.
This erosion is started with the build up of plaque around your gums.
If you don’t take care with proper brushing and flossing after
eating or drinking anything, your saliva will actually press the plaque
further into your teeth and gums.
Since your gums are basically made up of soft tissue, without proper care
it is too easy for infection to set in. The gums have no natural immune
system and are overly exposed to the elements.
The gum line is the most common place for tarter deposits to gather and
turn into a wall of infection that can quickly lead to the deterioration
of the gums and teeth. Although there are home dentistry kits sold in
stores, the only way to properly remove tarter is through a professional
cleaning by the dentist. Although the price may seem daunting, it is a
wise investment to a life after fifty with a set of teeth that can chew
without pain.
If you find your gums bleeding when you brush, this is because they are
now exposed and sensitive, so the need for a professional cleaning is
even more important. The likelihood is that you are suffering from
gingivitis.
Most people, when they discover this bleeding, tend to over do it and
engage in rough brushing campaigns that last for 10 minutes. You cannot
make up for years of bad oral hygiene in one day. In fact, you may be
irritating your gums even more by brushing too hard. Remember, soft
circular strokes around the teeth and gums. Your goal is to stimulate
and to move out tarter, food and plaque, not to blast everything away.
Although the bleeding occurs on the gums, the most significant damage is
being done to the bone that supports the teeth. Once this bone becomes
infected, the tooth will most assuredly be lost. Without regular visits
to the dentist, the damage done to this bone is undetected because it
takes place beneath the surface.
Although extremely destructive, with the right home care and yearly check
ups with your dentist, the prevention of Periodontal Disease is quite
simple.
Smokers are almost assured of developing this condition if they continue
with their addiction because smoking decreases the immune systems
capabilities, therefore making it all the more difficult to heal damaged
gums, most of which is being done by the actually cigarette and the over
100 chemicals inside of it.
Sounds fun.
High levels of stress are also though the have an affect, as nighttime
teeth grinding and neglecting bedtime brushes can erode your gums.
All of this can be prevented with a regimented brushing plan.
You mom isn’t coming in to check if you brushed your teeth anymore,
so make sure you take care of your choppers, or you better get used to
Malt O Meal and soggy cereal.
View Previous Articles
|
