Chronic inflammation from periodontal disease is the cause of tooth loss in 70% of all adult tooth losses and will affect 75% of adults sometime in their lives. Gum disease, known as periodontal disease is a serious bacterial infection that destroys the gums and tissue around your teeth. If left untreated, it will cause the bones to degenerate and the teeth become loose and can actually fall out if severe enough.
Avoiding Periodontal Disease
The best way to avoid gum disease is to brush your teeth with a toothbrush and floss.
When done correctly, you can keep gum disease away. Gum disease starts with plaque. Plaque is bacteria, mucus, food and other particles that adhere to your teeth as a sticky film. If not removed on a regular basis it will harden and form into tartar, causing inflammation of the gums and eventual bone and tooth loss. You cannot remove tartar, that must be done professionally.
The Three Stages Of Gum Disease
Periodontal or gum disease has three stages:
1. Gingivitis:
The first stage is known as Gingivitis. You will notice your gums are tender, red and when you brush or floss, they bleed. You can reverse by brushing and flossing correctly.
2. Periodontitis, Mild To Moderate:
This second stage is demonstrated by increased inflammation around the tooth and increased bleeding due to the bacteria in the plaque. Your own body’s defenses begin to break down where the gum attaches to the tooth, and forms infected pockets. It is critical you obtain treatment at this stage, so you don’t start losing bone and teeth.
3. Periodontitis, Advanced Stage:
This final stage the gum pockets continue to deepen eating away at the bone that holds your teeth. Teeth will become loose and if not treated will fall out. Advance stage periodontitis displays symptoms that include:
Continuous bad breath (Halitosis)
Receding gum line
Red, swollen bleeding gums
Pain when chewing
Loose or sensitive teeth
Preventing Gum Disease
Good oral hygiene daily brushing correctly, flossing and an antibacterial mouthwash a minimum of twice a day will help prevent not just gum disease, but cavities and tooth loss as well. Even with good dental hygiene, you can still develop plaque and tartar; so make sure you visit your dentist a minimum of once a year. Some risk factors that also affect your gum tissue besides poor dental hygiene are:
Heredity
Hormonal changes in females
Diabetes
Some medications
Tobacco, smoking or chewing
Watch What You Eat
Most of us know by now that certain foods will cause decay, but the following suggestions will protect your teeth and is a good review:
Avoid sticky candies such as toffee, taffy, or soft chews. With other sweets such as chocolate try to rinse your mouth out with water or if you can, brush your teeth.
Chew only sugar-free gum
Eat calcium-rich foods. These include yogurt, cheese, and milk. Calcium helps maintain the health of the bones that support your teeth. This is especially important for children and seniors.
Another major contributor to periodontal disease is brushing incorrectly and for most of us, that means too hard, causing damage to gums and teeth allowing pockets of bacteria to collect. The ZentFlex toothbrush is specifically designed to ensure you do not brush too hard, thereby lessening the damage to your teeth and improve your dental health.
