What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection of gums, bones and tissues that surround and support the teeth. The early stage and the most common form is gingivitis, which is a non-destructive form of periodontal disease, which causes painful and swollen gums. The more destructive form is periodontis, which may cause bones to break out and teeth to fall out.
There are many factors that can lead to periodontal disease. Plaque that has developed inside the mouth can infect tissue that surrounds the teeth, causing tooth decay and tartar buildup. If left untreated, these bacteria would infect the gums, tissues and teeth leading to periodontal disease. Other known causes include poor dental hygiene, illness, pregnancy and diabetes. Brushing vigorously, misaligned teeth, and using unclean mouth appliances such as retainers, braces, and dentures can also cause injury to the gums. A visit to a professional dentist may stop the formation of bacteria and prevent inflammation in the mouth.
The following are early warning signs of periodontal disease:
- Bleeding gums every time you brush
- Dark red or swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Bad taste within the mouth
- Chewing difficulty
Risk of periodontal disease may possibly increase due to heredity or genetic factors, stress, ulcers, smoking, diabetes, AIDS, psychological disorders, osteoporosis, and even hormonal changes. To prevent periodontal disease, you need to have good dental hygiene, and visit your dentist every 6 months or more frequently if you have warning signs already. Proper brushing of your teeth for 2 minutes should also be done after every meal, while flossing should be for 2 to 3 minutes. Anti-plaque or anti-tartar toothpaste may be recommended for people who show early signs. For severe forms of periodontal disease, a more extensive treatment is necessary. Such treatment may involve using of dental apparatus, medications, and surgical operations.
Never underestimate the importance of having a clean and healthy mouth. Teeth and gums can affect total health problems and can lead to serious diseases, such as periodontal disease, if not properly taken care of. Do not take your teeth for granted; brushing alone may not be enough to maintain cleanliness and oral hygiene.
What You Need To Know About Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, bones and tissue that surround and support the teeth. The early stage and the most common form is gingivitis, which is a form of the disease that causes painful and swollen gums. Another, more destructive form is periodontis, which may cause bones to break and teeth to fall out.
There are many factors that can lead to periodontal disease. Plaque that has developed inside the mouth can infect tissue that surrounds the teeth causing tooth decay and tartar. If untreated, these bacteria will infect the gums, tissues and teeth leading to disease. Other known causes include poor dental hygiene, illness, pregnancy and diabetes. Brushing vigorously, having misaligned teeth, and using unclean mouth appliances can also cause injury to the gums. A visit to a professional dentist can stop the formation of bacteria and prevent inflammation in the mouth.
The following are the early warning signs of periodontal disease:
- Bleeding gums when you brush
- Dark red or swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Bad taste within the mouth
- Chewing difficulty
Risks for periodontal disease may increase due to heredity or genetic factors, stress, ulcers, smoking, diabetes, AIDS, psychological disorders, osteoporosis and even hormonal changes. To prevent this disease, you need to have good dental hygiene, and visit your dentist every 6 months. Proper brushing for 2 minutes should also be done after every meal, while flossing should be performed for 2 to 3 minutes. Anti-plaque or anti-tartar toothpaste may be recommended for people who show early signs. For severe forms of periodontal disease, a more extensive treatment may be necessary. Such treatment may involve the use of a dental apparatus, medications, and/or other surgical and non-surgical options.
Never underestimate the importance of having a clean and healthy mouth. Teeth and gums can affect your total health, and can lead to serious diseases. Do not take your teeth for granted.
What is a Root Canal?
What is root canal? Probably, this is the worst possible dental torment imaginable when we pay a visit to our dentist. Most of us fear this kind of treatment, and it is arguably one of the most misunderstood treatments in the field of dentistry. A root canal is the procedure of fixing the tooth itself by removing the inside of the tooth, which is the pulp chamber, and filling it up with an artificial filling substantial enough to ensure the tooth is whole once again. Root canals are very necessary if you have a tooth decayed to the point that the tooth is actually rotting in your mouth.
The good thing here is most treatments are now much more comfortable than in the past. With the advanced equipment that most of the dentists have, along with their advanced training, the procedure can likely be finished in less than an hour. Needless to say, it is critical that the dentist cleans the tooth inside during the procedure, otherwise the damage will begin to dissect the nerve and eventually bacteria will develop inside the tooth surrounding the bone. It may lead to a life threatening infection.
Antibiotics will most likely be given to you after the treatment, primarily because the decay inside the tooth can make its way to your body and cause illness. For treating this, the dentist will mostly isolate the affected tooth and disinfect it, separating it from the rest. Once the specific tooth is separated from the rest, the dentist will then drill down to the tooth’s pulp chamber until it reach the root. During this process you may experience numbness on that specific area of your tooth. Don’t worry. Your dentist will provide an anesthetic.
Once the procedure is completed, the anesthesia will wear off, and you are likely to feel some soreness. Pain medicine will be provided to help you get through the day. The dentist will ensure that all of the infections will be taken care of, and a full recovery is the norm.
Effective Ways to Prevent Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a medical condition that can range from the inflammation of the gums to the breakdown of tissue and bones that support the teeth. Preventing periodontal disease can be done by practicing healthy oral hygiene.
Brushing the teeth at least twice a day is the best and easiest way in preventing periodontal disease. Flossing can also help in preventing the development of the disease because it removes any food particles that are left between the teeth. Visiting a dentist at least once every six months is definitely a significant help in preventing periodontal disease. Dentists can immediately detect problems associated with the gums and the teeth, and an immediate solution to the problem can be provided. Regular dental checkups can prevent tooth loss and incoming gum problems.
Gums begin to recede when there is a heavy accumulation of tartar and plaque. Getting a professional tooth cleaning at least once a year is a great help in removing hardened plaque, known as tartar. Using a mouth rinse will help in controlling the presence of plaque in the teeth. More importantly, use fluoride-rich toothpaste to prevent tooth decay.
Smoking must always be refrained from in order to prevent gum diseases. Smoking contributes greatly in the development of periodontal disease because it keeps the mouth dry. Dry mouth is a very conducive place for gingivitis-causing bacteria to thrive.
Drinking plenty of water also contributes to the prevention of periodontal disease. Having an adequate amount of saliva helps prevent the growth of bacteria inside the mouth. By eating a healthy and balanced diet, the body’s immune system is enhanced, which enables the body to effectively fight against the attack of gingivitis-causing bacteria. These bacteria are also responsible for the weakening and inflammation of gums. By eating nutritious food, collagens in the periodontal ligaments are formed. A healthy and balanced diet that promotes the health of gums should include Vitamin A, E and C and antioxidants such as zinc and bioflavonoids.