Do you know what causes gingivitis and periodontitis?

By: Linda Barton
[

][Post to BookMarks @ AfroArticles.com]

[ Posted On: 2008-05-02 ]

If you're over thirty-five and living in the United States there is a larger than 75 percent likelihood you have a variant of gum disease. As a rule the initial indications are inflammation of the gums and gums that bleed with ease, if left untreated you possibly may forfeit your teeth. The certainty is you have to care for your gums if you would like to retain your teeth.

At all times there are millions of micro-organisms active our mouths. A few of these bugs are safe on the other hand others assault teeth and gums.

Plaque is a colourless gluey film which comprises the germs that produce gum disease. If this plaque is not gotten rid of it forms on the teeth and in time aggravates the gums inducing them to bleed. If plaque is not treated bone and supplementary tissue is ruined and the teeth loosen and possibly result in them having to be taken out.

Up-to-date studies caution that higher than fifty percent of the adults that underwent questioning knew decidedly little, if anything in relation to gum disease. Moreover less than forty percent see a dentist on a regular basis and yet gum disease is the principle explanation for adult tooth loss.

Known as periodontal (around the tooth) disease, gum disease is bacterial growth combined with other factors that gradually destroy the tissue supporting and surrounding the teeth.

Gum disease starts out with plaque, this is perpetually taking shape on your teeth and once it accomplishes exuberant levels it will harden into tartar really rapidly. Tartar may only be removed by way of professional cleaning.

The two primary stages of gum illness are gingivitis and periodontal disease. Generally periodontitis comes after gingivitis however not all gingivitis will work up to periodontitis.

Gingivitis normally starts with gums bleeding easily and becoming red and swollen generally when brushing. Bleeding is not always a symptom of gingivitis but it does point to an unhealthy mouth that should get attention. At this point there is no bone or tissue damage and the teeth are still firmly planted.

Left untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. This is when the gum starts to recede from the teeth forming pockets. Debris can get in to these small spaces and become infected and the body fighting these bacteria as the plaque spreads causes the bone and connective tissue holding the teeth in place to break down.

When this occurs there is no lynchpin holding the teeth and they become increasingly looser resultant in tooth loss.

Periodontal disease can go unnoticed as it may not be painful even in the later stages but there are some early warning signs. These include gums that bleed when they are being brushed, bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth and loose or shifting teeth.

Gum disease might solely be around particular teeth and you do not have any signs or it could be at the rear of the mouth where you can't see. Only a dental specialist can check the advancement of gum disease.

There is some good news however; in the majority of cases gum disease is preventable. In fact you can actually reverse the early stages and prevent gum disease by simply brushing and flossing and getting your teeth cleaned professionally twice a year.

Brushing your teeth is very important but it only removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth that the brush can reach but flossing gets rid of plaque from under the gum line and in between the teeth.

There are motorized toothbrushes available with smaller heads which may be more effective at removing plaque than a standard toothbrush these types of toothbrushes are often recommended by dentists for this reason.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Linda Barton is webmaster of Oral Care 4 All. For all your oral care needs including our range of href="http://www.oralcare4all.com/Oral-Care/Electric-Toothbrushes">electric toothbrushes. Check our prices!

| View Profile & All Articles By: Linda Barton |

		Post Comment
		Blog This Article!
		Discuss Article in Forum(s)
		Publication \| Reprint Terms

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Dental Health Articles Via RSS!

| Category Feeds | All-in-one Feed | Other Feed & Syndication Options |

Additional Articles From - Home | Health | Dental Health

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email To Friends
	Ezine Ready \| Syndication
	Post To del.icio.us
	Post To Furl
	Add To Google Bookmarks
	Submit To Netscape

	Add To Yahoo! My Web
	Add Main Feed To Outlook
	Post to BookMarks @ AfroArticles.com

	Post To BookMarkAfrica.com

Site Home

Article Categories

More Search Options

Site Map

Submit Articles

Top Authors

Most Recent Articles