Recently I heard an
interview with comedian Sarah Silverman, where she was talking about
her passion for oral hygiene, and how it affects your health. Memorably, she said “Death creeps
in through the gums!” It was a stunning image, and sadly it’s
true. Studies have shown that people who brush and floss regularly
live on average 6 years longer!
GUM DISEASE,
GENERALLY
Gum disease is the
generic term used to describe the presence of inflammation,
infection, change of color and active disease conditions in the gums
that surround the teeth. This condition is due to the body’s immune
response to plaque biofilm and bacteria in areas that have not been
efficiently cleaned on a routine basis such as through daily flossing
or proper brushing.
Gum disease is known
by several other names such as “Periodontal disease,”
“Gingivitis,” “Pyorrhea,” “Periodontitis,” and “Trench
mouth.”
THE CAUSE OF GUM
DISEASE
Do you know what
causes gum disease? In order to understand the etiology and factors
that contribute to gum disease, it is important to first understand
the anatomy of the tooth, and how the gums relate to it.
Tooth Anatomy
Each of your teeth
is designed to have a natural, shallow gum pocket surrounding it.
This area is called the sulcus – pocket – or if disease is
present a periodontal pocket. At the base of this pocket lies
connective tissue including ligaments and bone. These structures
adhere to the tooth, holding it into the socket. A healthy pocket
will be no deeper than three millimeters.
The Invasion Of Bacteria
Plaque biofilm is a
byproduct naturally produced by our bodies. As we consume food, that
food mixes with our saliva and breaks down into smaller particles.
Biofilm then begins to develop and deposit itself onto the surfaces
of teeth, and along the gumlines. Plaque biofilm enters into the gum
pocket during chewing or by accumulation in the absence of good oral
hygiene.
The Destruction Of
Gum Attachment And Bone Structure
When plaque is not
removed efficiently through careful flossing or brushing, your body’s
own immune system begins to attack the bacteria. As the blood supply
brings antibodies to attack the biofilm under your gumlines, it
destroys the attached gum around the tooth in order to access the
area of infection. As this attachment is lost it causes your gum
pocket to deepen, destroying bone along with it. After a certain
point these pockets become too deep for you to efficiently care for
them through normal brushing and flossing.
Heightened Risk
Factors
Certain risk factors
and health conditions can also contribute to the development and
severity of your gum disease.2 3 Some of these risk factors may
include:
Age
-
Family
history
-
Tobacco use
-
Diabetes
-
Stress
-
Osteoporosis
-
Cardiovascular
disease
THE EFFECTS OF GUM DISEASE
As bacteria invade
the areas just under the gumlines, it causes the loss of attached
support tissue. This condition ultimately leads to bone loss and
tooth mobility. Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss,
so early diagnosis and intervention is key for effective treatment.
Diagnosis
How do you know if
you have gum disease? What does gum disease look like? While your
dentist or hygienist can easily screen for the condition, it is also
possible to identify it for yourself. Early stages of gum disease
begin in the simple form of gingivitis, with more advanced stages
leading to severe periodontal disease and tooth loss.
It is estimated that
upwards of 90% of adults in the U.S. have gingivitis. The CDC finds
that approximately 50% of adults have some form of periodontitis.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
A combination of
signs and symptoms may be present, depending on what severity of gum
disease you may have. Typically the early signs of gingivitis involve
minor irritation such as bleeding or swelling of your gums.
- Bleeding – Healthy
gums should not bleed. If you floss regularly and brush along the
gumlines, bleeding is not normal. However, infrequent flossing may
always result in your gums bleeding due to the development of
gingivitis.
- Swollen, Red Gums –
Gums that are red, puffy or swollen are a sign of infection. Just as
if you had another area on your body that was infected, swelling and
redness would occur, alerting you to the condition.
- Bad Breath – A bad
taste in your mouth or bad breath may be a sign that there is biofilm
or food lodged deep under your gums.
- Gum Recession –
The loss of your gum attachment causes the gums to creep slowly down
the root of the teeth.
- Tooth Mobility –
As gum and bone loss occurs, your tooth has less stability. This may
cause your teeth to shift into other positions or make them mobile.
- Sore Teeth – When
limited support structures are all that is holding your teeth into
place, the delicate ligaments around your teeth can become strained.
- Pus – Clear, white
or yellow pus may begin to drain between your teeth and along the
gumlines.
DANGERS AND HEALTH
RISKS
Having gum disease
doesn’t just affect the way your teeth look or feel, but it can
also make you more likely to suffer from severe health conditions in
other parts of your body. Research shows a direct correlation in the
severity of your gum disease and the severity of other health
conditions.
Health concerns that
are associated with gum disease include:
-
Heart attack
-
Stroke
-
Cardiovascular
diseases
-
Diabetes
-
Erectile
dysfunction
-
Obesity
-
Premature
labor
-
Low birth
weight
If you suffer from
any of these conditions along with gum disease, it places a strain on
the body’s immune system and makes it difficult to battle a
combination of conditions. Bacterial plaque from the mouth can enter
into the blood vessels when gum disease is present, spreading to
other areas of the body. These bacteria within your bloodstream can
increase the likelihood of occurrences such as a heart attack.
HOW TO PREVENT GUM
DISEASE
Gum disease is a
preventable disease condition, but at times you may still find that
even with proper care there may be areas in your mouth that are more
prone to persistent problems than others. The most effective way to
prevent gum disease is to have absolutely impeccable oral hygiene
habits.
Brush Your Teeth
Brushing is
something we all do, but do you do it the correct way? Using a
soft-bristled brush isn’t always someone’s first method of
choice, but it is the gentlest, safest way to remove plaque deposits
from along the gumlines without causing tooth abrasion or gum
recession. Gently angle the toothbrush 45 degrees toward the
gumlines, making short back and forth motions. You should focus on
only two or three teeth at a time and apply just enough pressure that
the tissue blanches, no more.
High-quality
electric toothbrushes can remove plaque more efficiently from your
teeth than manual brushes. Because the bristles vibrate thousands of
times per second they disrupt the plaque better than a few strokes
back and forth with a manual toothbrush. These brushes work best when
you hold the toothbrush in place on just two or three teeth at a
time, allowing the brush to do the work for you.
Although
conventional wisdom may tell you to use commercial toothpastes filled
with fluoride and other chemicals, you may be surprised to learn of
the potential dangers that go along with these substances. Click here
to learn about the dangers in your toothpaste. It’s best to use
toothpaste with natural botanical ingredients that will help destroy
the bad bacteria on an ongoing basis
It’s better to use
toothpaste with natural ingredients that help destroy bad bacteria on
a daily basis.
Floss Daily
Brushing does not
remove plaque deep below the gums or between the teeth. If you do not
clean these areas, you are placing your oral health at risk for an
increased chance to develop tooth decay and gum disease.
To floss properly
you should:
Use
approximately 18 inches of floss, wrapped around the fingers or tied
in a circle, allowing you to move to a “clean” portion as you go
along
-
Wrap the
floss in a “C” shape around each tooth
-
Glide gently
up and down against your tooth, sliding under the gumlines
-
Allow the
floss to slide down under the gums as deep as it will go, making
three to four strokes against the side of the tooth
-
Come up over
the gums before wrapping the floss against the adjacent tooth to
prevent gum trauma
Gums that have
gingivitis or periodontal disease will almost always bleed when
flossed (an exception is in smokers, who almost always have no
bleeding). If your gums bleed, continue daily flossing for
approximately two weeks before expecting to see the bleeding stop.
Get Routine
Preventive Screenings And Cleanings
Seeing your dentist
and hygienist regularly can help identify areas of gum disease that
you might have otherwise been unaware of, allowing for early
intervention. By having your hygienist clean your teeth regularly,
she is able to remove the calcified plaque deposits from your teeth
(tartar) that contribute to the advancement of gum disease.
Even people with
exceptional oral hygiene will usually still develop small areas of
plaque calcification. These tartar deposits cannot be removed on your
own and require special instrumentation and training. When tartar is
removed from the tooth, it creates a healthy gum environment that
helps prevent the loss of bone support. Otherwise, the tartar
accumulates and harbors bacteria that contribute to gum detachment.
By seeing your
dentist and hygienist regularly, you can stay on top of your oral
health, and guard against your overall health and early death.
If you think you
might have gum disease, at the dental offices of Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD (
offices in West Hartford Center and New Britain, CT)
there are many things we can do to stop it,
and reverse it, including deep cleaning, scaling, and antibiotic
therapy. If you don’t have gum disease, Dr. Basil can make sure you don’t
get it. To schedule an appointment, contact us online, or call us at 860-561-2121.
Keep smiling
Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and New Britain, Connecticut. She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121
