Gum Disease

GUM DISEASE

A major cause of tooth loss that causes growing  concern among oral health planners

General

Do you think gum disease is something  that only happens only to oldies? Think again! Teens, too, can get gum  disease. And it can cause embarrassing problems like the simple bad breath to the serious one like pain and tooth loss – both embarrassing and serious !

What is Gum Disease ?

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. Gum Disease is a major cause of tooth loss. It can range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that may result in damage to the bone. It is also called periodontal disease in its serious form.

There are two states of gum disease: The first state is called gingivitis and the second, a more serious  form is known as periodontitis. Gingivitis is mild gum disease that affects only the gums, the tissue that surrounds the teeth.

In gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, in which the gums pull  away from the teeth and form pockets of infection. If not properly treated,  it results in tooth loss due to  destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.

Periodontitis, on the other hand, is gum disease  that gets worse and spreads below the gums to damage the tissues and bone that support the teeth. If ignored, the bones,  gums and connective tissue supporting the teeth are destroyed. It is  the advanced and a very severe  form of gingivitis. Gingivitis causes red, swollen gums that bleed  easily when the teeth are brushed. Because gingivitis usually  doesn’t  cause paid, many people  don’t  get the treatment  they need. It causes bad breath, or a bad taste in your mouth. Good teeth-brushing  and flossing can reverse  the affects of gingivitis. Gingivitis also generally called gum  disease or periodontal disease, describes the events that begin with bacterial growth  in your mouth and may end – if not properly treated – with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.

Periodontitis develops if gum disease  gets worse. Periodontitis occurs when bacterial toxins and enzymes destroy the connective tissue  and the bone supporting the teeth. The gums  pull away or shrink back from the teeth, leaving deep pockets where bacteria  can grow  and damage the bone that supports the teeth. When the gums draw back or get withdrawn the roots of the teeth get exposed. This can make the teeth  look longer. Teeth may become loose, fall out, or have to be pulled out by a dentist.

The teeth may become very sensitive  to temperature changes, or new cavities  can develop. Plaque is a sticky film of bacterial that sticks to the surface  of teeth  and gums. Brushing and flossing every day may not completely remove all the plaque, especially around the gum line. The bacteria in the plaque produce toxins that may injure the gums and the supporting tissues.

What causes Gum Disease ?

Your mouth constantly makes a clear, sticky substance called plaque that contains bacteria. This film of bacteria  sticks to the surface of teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing every day may not completely remove all the plaque,  especially around the gum line. Plaque  and he acids it produces irritate the gums, causing them to become red and swollen. The bacteria in the plaque produce toxins that may injure the gums  and the supporting tissues causing the gum tissues to break down. If you don’t  do a good job of removing plaque from your teeth, it can spread below the gums  and damage the bone that supports the teeth.

Plaque that is not completely removed within 48 hours hardens into a rough  deposit called tartar or calculus. Once tartar develops, the only way to remove  it is by having the teeth professionally  cleaned. Tartar  below the gum  line causes inflammation and infection. Because this process is often painless, a person may be unaware a problem exists.

You are more likely to get Gum Disease if you:

·         Do not clear your teeth well.

·         Smoke or chew tobacco.

·         Have someone in your family who has gum disease.

·         Have a condition that makes it harder  for your body to fight infection, such as (a) uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS, or leukemia; (b) a high level of stress and more susceptible to infection, and (c) too little sleep and a poor  diet that’s low in nutrients leaves you more  vulnerable to infection.

·         Steroids, cancer medicines, and blood pressure medicines can all affect the gums. Some drugs  decrease the flow of saliva, irritating the mouth and making it prone to infection.

What are the Symptoms ?

It may be hard to tell if you have a mild case  of gum disease. Healthy gums are pink and firm, fit snugly around the teeth, and do not bleed easily. But mild cases of gum disease (gingivitis) cause:

·         Gums that are red,  swollen, and tender.

·         Gums that bleed easily during  brushing or flossing.

·         Breath begins  to take on a foul odour.

·         As gum disease gets worse (periodontitis), the symptoms are easier to see, such as :

·         Gums that pull away or shrink from the teeth.

·         Bad breath that won’t go away.

·         Pus coming from the gums.

·         A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite.

·         Loose teeth.

Who is at Risk ?

Certain things can make teens more likely to develop gum disease. Some may inherit this  tendency from their parents. The snacks you eat also can put you  at risk of developing gum disease-especially if you ear fried chips and have water to drink in the mall or in a cinema hall and aren’t able to brush immediately after eating them. You probably know that sugar is bad for your teeth, but you  may not know that starchy foods like fries also feed the acids  that eat into your tooth  enamel. If you have braces, fending off plaque can be tougher.

Girls have a higher  risk of gum disease than guys. Increases in  female sex hormones during puberty can make girls’ gums more sensitive to irritation. Some girls may notice that their gums  bleed a bit in the days before their periods.

For severe – and early – gum problems, though, the real bad guy is tobacco. Not only does smoking  lead to bad breath  and stained, yellowed teeth but recent  research also  shows that smoking is a leading cause of gum disease.

How is Gum Disease Diagnosed ?

To find out if you have gum disease, your dentist will do an exam to look for:

·         Bleeding gums.

·         Hard buildups of plaque and tartar above and below the gums.

·         Areas where your gums  are pulling away or shrinking from your teeth.

·         Pockets that have grown between your teeth and gums.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may  take X-rays  of your teeth to look for bone damage and other problems.

How is it Treated ?

If you  have a mild case of gum disease, you will probably  be able to take care of it by brushing  and flossing your teeth every day and getting  regular cleanings at your dentist’s office. If your  gum disease has become worse and you have periodontitis, your dentist or dental hygienist will clean your teeth using a method called root planning and scaling. This removes  the plaque and tartar buildup both  above and below the gum line. You may  also need to take  antibiotics to help get rid of the infection  in your mouth. If your  gum disease is severe, you may need to  have surgery.

How can  you Prevent Gum Disease ?

While gum disease is most common in adults, it can  affect anyone,  even children. So good dental habits are important throughout your life:

·         Brush your teeth 2 times a day, in the morning and before bedtime, with fluoride toothpaste.

·         Floss your teeth once each day.

·         Visit your dentist for regular checkups and teeth cleaning.

·         Don’t use tobacco products.

If you think you have a mild case of gum disease,  made sure to take care of it before it gets worse. Keeping your teeth  and gums healthy and getting regular  checkups from your dentist can keep  the disease from getting worse. Having  gum disease may increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a premature, low-birth-weight baby. Also, studies have found a direct link between heart  disease and the bacteria that cause gum disease. So taking good  care of your teeth  and gums may have benefits beyond keeping your mouth healthy.

Treatment

Gum disease can be sneaky, sometimes  causing little or no pain or irritation before permanent damage is done to your teeth. That’s  the reason why  regular dental visits are advised. With X-rays and a thorough examination, a dentist or dental hygienist can spot  trouble  before you know it’s there. The earlier  that gum  disease is caught, the better. Adopting better brushing and flossing habits can usually reverse gingivitis. Sometimes your dentist will also prescribe antibiotics or a special  antibacterial mouth  rinse to tackle the problem.

Once someone  develops periodontitis, it  isn’t as easy to control as in gingivitis. Usually there is widespread infection  of the gums that needs to be treated. This may require several special treatments  either by a dentist or a periodontist,  an expert who specializes  in the care of gum  disease. Some of the ways dentists and periodontists may treat periodontitis are:

Scaling or Root Planning: These deep-cleaning measures involve  scrapping and removing plaque  and tartar from teeth  above and below the gum line. By reducing plaque, bacteria  can be kept  to a level manageable by the human immune system.

Antibiotics : These and other medications are often used together  with scaling and root planning to stop the spread of infection and inflammation in the mouth. They come in several different  forms that range from medicated mouthwashes to antibiotic-containing  gels  or fibers that are placed in gum pockets to slowly kill bacteria and help gums to heal.

Surgery: Advanced cases of periodontitis may require  a dentist to open and clean badly diseased gum  pockets, then stitch  the gums back into place to fit  more snugly around the teeth.

Gingival Grafting: If gum  tissue is too diseased  to sew back together, a dentist removes healthy gum tissue  from another part of the mouth  and stitches it into place. The graft replaces  the diseased tissue  and helps to anchor the teeth, giving them an improved  appearance.

While undergoing treating  for periodontitis, it’s especially important to take special care of your teeth and gums to see lasting  improvement. This  includes flossing  and brushing  every day and quitting habits that mean bad  news for the mouth, such as smoking  or eating sugary snacks between meals.

Source : IDA – Oral - July 2012