DrMezmer

Are your gums bleeding and sore?  Are you beginning to see gaps between your teeth and gums?  Chances are, you have periodontal disease.  It is often a result of untreated gingivitis and could lead to serious dental issues, such as early teeth loss and an embarrassing foul breath.  But apart from dental problems, periodontitis could also lead to a slew of other medical complications like cardiovascular disease and could worsen an existing systemic disease if left untreated.  That is why it is necessary to visit a dentist at the first sign of periodontal disease to avoid the debilitating effects of periodontitis.

But how do you get periodontitis?  It all starts with your oral hygiene practices.  It may be surprising to know that our mouths are full of bacteria.  They feed on the sugars from the food particles left behind when we eat.  The combination of the food particles and the waste product of the bacteria form a clear, mucus-like substance called the plaque which feeds and protects the bacteria on your teeth and gums.  If plaque is left unremoved on teeth, it hardens into tartar and this is where the real problem starts.  Gingivitis, the inflammation of the gingiva or the tissues surrounding the teeth, will develop when the bacteria starts to infect the gums.  If left untreated, this could eventually lead to periodontitis and may require an intrusive periodontitis treatment.

However while plaque and tartar build-up is considered the number one culprit of periodontitis and other gum diseases, other factors could contribute to the development of gum infection.  Systemic conditions like diabetes can make you susceptible to periodontal diseases as the increase of sugar in the saliva can promote the health and growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth.  Apart from that, Sjorgen’s disease and AIDS can affect the health of gums as these medical conditions slow down or eradicate the production of saliva in the mouth.  As you know, saliva washes away the bacteria on the mouth and the absence or slow production of saliva could allow the bacteria to flourish and wreak more havoc on your teeth and gums.

Other factors which could lead to periodontitis are hormonal changes in women, medication which could lessen the production of saliva, as well as unhealthy lifestyle and habits such as smoking and drinking which weakens the immune system.  When seeking periodontal disease treatment, it is important to stress out these other factors to help your dentist determine the best remedy for your periodontitis.  However, on your part, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene practices to boost healing of damaged gum tissues and slow down the debilitating effects of periodontitis especially if it is caused by an existing medical condition or medication.