Mouth Diseases Will Cause You To Lose Teeth, Bone And Soft Tissue

Mouth diseases can affect your overall health, apart from having an impact on the way you look.

Gingivitis and Periodontitus are diseases of the gums (gingiva) which are caused by inadequate dental care, and can be a serious problem especially after the age of 35. About 80% of tooth loss after this age can be put down to mouth diseases and if more people were aware of this fact, I’m sure they would take better care of their mouths and gums and minimize the need for false teeth or implants.

Mouth diseases affect the supporting structures of the teeth i.e. the bone, gums and ligaments. As it is initially painless and it can creep up on you and cause serious gum and bone damage before you know it.

SYMPTOMS

•Swollen gums that bleed often and easily

•Shiny bright red or red-purple gums

•Little or no pain

•May have sores or ulcers

CAUSE

•Micro-organisms

•Tartar

•Food impaction

•Faulty restoration

•Chemicals and drugs

TREATMENT

1)Treatment by dentist or oral hygienist

2)Proper brushing and flossing

3)Can be reversed

PERIODONTITUS

SYMPTOMS

•Bleeding gums during and after brushing

•Red swollen tender gums

•Bad breath

•Bad taste in mouth

•Receding gums

•Loose or shifting teeth

•Visible pockets between teeth and gums

•Nutritional imbalance

•Drug action

•Pregnancy, diabetes and endocrine dysfunction

•Allergies

•Hereditary factors

•Brushing & flossing give no relief

TREATMENT

•Healthy eating

•Correct brushing and flossing

•Treatment by dentist oral hygienist

•Surgery

•Bone and soft tissue graft

Bacterial plaque is the biggest cause of gum disease. When plaque is not removed properly, the millions of bacterial organisms and the saliva combine to form a hard deposit called tartar. The tartar causes more irritation and infection, allowing the bacteria to get down into the pockets formed, as the gums pull away from the teeth.

The warning signs of gum disease are swollen red gums that bleed easily and it is vital to pay attention to the health of your gums with a daily routine.

Diet, smoking, stress and certain diseases and medications can all have an effect on the health of your gums. Gum disease can also have an effect on your health as is now felt that the gum inflammation associated with periodontal disease can be the cause behind systemic inflammatory disorders such as;

•Cardiovascular (heart) disease

•Diabetes

•Rheumatoid arthritis

•Chronic kidney disease

•Certain forms of cancer

You should discuss these issues with your dentist, when you go for your biannual check up if you have any problems with your gums.

Plaque is a combination of saliva, normal oral bacteria and food particles in the mouth that stick to the teeth. While sugar and fizzy drinks are the main culprit, it is in fact all carbohydrates (starches) that cause plaque, because they convert to acids more readily than other foods do.

So it is a good idea to cut down on the number of times in a day that you eat carbohydrates and be aware of what you snack on between meals. Also it is advisable to brush your teeth, or at least use a mouth wash, after eating carbohydrates.

Plaque that has not been removed, apart from causing mouth diseases, causes cavities that would need to be filled by your dentist. This of course brings us to the matter of amalgam fillings. which can be a real problem.

Bad breath should not be a problem if you are following my mouthcare regime but just to make sure you are not offending your nearest and dearest or your employers, do have a look at my recommendations.

Remember that snoring, although it is not a mouth disease as such, can play havoc with your health, work and relationships and should be attended to without delay