Gum disease - the biggest threat to teeth

Gum disease is the greatest threat to the dentition. Most often they are caused by insufficient oral hygiene. Inaccurate tooth brushing is one of the causes of gingivitis, and is also influenced by genes and systemic diseases such as diabetes.

Dentists estimate that every second adult and every third teenager have problems withgums . And although our consciousness is rooted in the belief that genes are the culprit of these troubles, we cannot blame all the blame on our grandparents. There is only a certain tendency to gum and periodontitis (the tissues surroundingteeth ) inherited, but the genetic factor is almost at the end among the causes of these diseases. Inadequate or inappropriateoral hygiene .

Hygienic negligence contributes to gum disease

The mouth is inhabited by various bacteria which, in combination with saliva and food residues, create the so-called bacterial plaque that settles on the teeth and along the gum line. When brushing our teeth, we remove the plaque with the bacteria, but if we do it inaccurately or too rarely, the toxins secreted by the bacteria irritate the tissue, causing inflammation. It is enough to neglect thorough brushing of teeth for 3-4 days to develop gingivitis. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the periodontium - the tissues that surround the teeth and hold them in the jaw bone (periodontitis). If the plaque is not removed, it becomes mineralized under the influence of calcium s alts in the saliva and forms tartar. Another layer of bacterial plaque builds up on the porous stone. The stone presses more and more under the gums, pushing them away from the roots.

Important

Common causes of gingivitis

Inaccurate or too infrequent tooth cleaning is the main cause of gingivitis and periodontitis. But not the only one. Some systemic diseases (e.g. diabetes, hyperthyroidism, blood diseases), chronic stress (weakens the body's immunity), a diet low in vitamins, smoking are also conducive to them. The habitual grinding of the teeth (bruxism), injuries caused by a toothbrush or improperly placed fillings, especially in the cervical area, also contribute to gingivitis. Deep pockets are formed and accumulated in thembacteria and food debris build up. The toxins secreted by them destroy the bone of the jaw, teeth become loose and eventually fall out. It happens that gum and periodontal diseases develop almost without symptoms. Most often, however, symptoms are hard to miss. The most characteristic and the easiest to observe is bleeding from the gums - usually when brushing your teeth, but it can also occur spontaneously or under the pressure of the tongue. Usually, the gums are red, swollen and can be painful. The developing disease is often accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the mouth, and there is also hypersensitivity of tooth necks to cold and heat. The gumline is also gradually lowered, which is why the teeth appear longer. In the advanced stage, when the infection has already attacked the periodontium, purulent discharge comes out of the pockets when the gums are pressed. They can also form abscesses on the gums. This is the last moment to try to save your teeth.

How to cure gingivitis

While gingivitis can be fully cured, the damage caused by periodontitis cannot be completely undone. However, it is possible to stop the disease progression and, to some extent, recreate the damage to the periodontal tissues.
How is the treatment going?

• In the early stage of the disease, when only the gums are inflamed, it is enough to clean the teeth of tartar and scrupulously observe oral hygiene. You need to brush your teeth at least twice a day (it's worth knowing that plaque begins to build up on the teeth after about 4 hours after brushing them). The brush should be soft so as not to injure the gums, and use dental floss to clean hard-to-reach places. The right toothpaste is very important - apart from fluoride, it should contain anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and anti-tartar substances. In addition, antiseptic rinses (Colgate Plax, Meridol, Listerine) are required to prolong the action of fluoride, destroy bacteria and prevent plaque build-up. Rinsing the mouth with herbal infusions is also great - sage, yarrow, chamomile, calendula, oak bark - they have anti-inflammatory, astringent properties, and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Preparations with bactericidal properties with chlorhexidine (Corsodyl, Sebidin, One Drop Only Chlorhexidin), anti-inflammatory rinsing fluids (Silicol dental, Salviasept, Hascosept, Azulan) and gels for application to lesions (Sachol, Solcoseryl, Mucosit) are also used.
• The advanced stage, when periodontal tissues are attacked, requires the removal of calculus not only from the surface of the teeth, but also from the roots and theirsmoothing and cleaning tooth pockets. These are often procedures that require the intervention of a surgeon. After that, one of the modern methods of restoring damaged tissues can be used. Good results are given by Emdogain - a biological preparation in the form of a gel. When applied to a properly prepared tooth root, it causes tissue regeneration. On the other hand, Bio-Guide - a collagen-resorbable membrane - isolates the site of damage from epithelial tissues. This creates an area that can be penetrated by stem cells that stimulate bone production. For filling bone defects, Bio-Oss is also used - granules of natural bone of animal origin.

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