Gums
More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum
disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed
easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line?
If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your
gums.
The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly
on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack
the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless
sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not
removed, plaque builds up on the teeth and ultimately irritates the
gums and causes bleeding. Left unchecked, bone and connective
tissue are destroyed, and teeth often become loose and may have to
be removed.
A recent poll of 1,000 people over 35 done by Harris Interactive
Inc. found that 60 percent of adults surveyed knew little, if
anything, about gum disease, the symptoms, available treatments,
and--most importantly--the consequences. And 39 percent do not
visit a dentist regularly. Yet, gum disease is the leading cause of
adult tooth loss. Moreover, a Surgeon General's report issued in
May 2000 labeled Americans' bad oral health a "silent epidemic" and
called for a national effort to improve oral health among all
Americans.
The good news is that in most people gum disease is preventable.
Attention to everyday oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), coupled
with professional cleanings twice a year, could be all that's
needed to prevent gum disease--and actually reverse the early
stage--and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
In addition, several products have been approved by the Food and
Drug Administration specifically to diagnose and treat gum disease,
and even regenerate lost bone. These products may help improve the
effectiveness of the professional care you receive. (See
"FDA-Approved Products for Gum Disease".)
What Is Gum Disease?
In the broadest sense, the term gum disease--or periodontal
disease--describes bacterial growth and production of factors that
gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth.
"Periodontal" means "around the tooth."
Gum disease begins with plaque, which is always forming on your
teeth, without you even knowing it. When it accumulates to
excessive levels, it can harden into a substance called tartar
(calculus) in as little as 24 hours. Tartar is so tightly bound to
teeth that it can be removed only during a professional
cleaning.
Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main stages of gum
disease. Each stage is characterized by what a dentist sees and
feels in your mouth, and by what's happening under your gumline.
Although gingivitis usually precedes periodontitis, it's important
to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.
In the early stage of gingivitis, the gums can become red and
swollen and bleed easily, often during toothbrushing. Bleeding,
although not always a symptom of gingivitis, is a signal that your
mouth is unhealthy and needs attention. The gums may be irritated,
but the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No bone or
other tissue damage has occurred at this stage. Although dental
disease in America remains a serious public health concern, recent
developments indicate that the situation is far from hopeless.
Frederick N. Hyman, D.D.S., a dental officer in the FDA's
dermatologic and dental drug products division, says that because
people seem to be paying more attention to oral hygiene as part of
personal grooming, the payoff is "a decline in gingivitis over
recent years." Hyman adds that "gingivitis can be reversed in
nearly all cases when proper plaque control is practiced,"
consisting, in part, of daily brushing and flossing.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to
periodontitis. At this point, the inner layer of the gum and bone
pull away from the teeth (recede) and form pockets. These small
spaces between teeth and gums may collect debris and can become
infected. The body's immune system fights the bacteria as the
plaque spreads and grows below the gumline. Bacterial toxins and
the body's enzymes fighting the infection actually start to break
down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. As
the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and
bone are destroyed.
At this point, because there is no longer an anchor for the
teeth, they become progressively looser, and the ultimate outcome
is tooth loss.
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Posted by
Dr Pombra 
at Mar 4, 2009 10:07:39 PM