Gum Disease: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Diseases of the teeth and gums can seriously impair a person’s quality of life and even lead to undesirable consequences in the form of complications in the gastrointestinal tract and other health conditions. Having learned more about these diseases, you can understand how to protect yourself from them.

What Is Gum Disease?

Concerned about the external beauty of the teeth, we often lose sight of sometimes invisible, and therefore, a perilous problem - gum disease. Meanwhile, among other diseases of the oral cavity, they are a serious competitor to caries. According to statistics, it is precisely weak and diseased gums that in half the cases cause tooth loss. This is a problem that one must take into consideration.

The gum swells, it turns purple, pain occurs when brushing your teeth and chewing, blood droplets appear on the toothbrush - many of these symptoms are familiar, and in this case, they speak of gum inflammation. Some people limit themselves to rinsing with a decoction of medicinal herbs or simply choosing an appropriate toothpaste. Such self-medication can be risky as pain and bleeding go away, but the cause of the disease remains and leads to serious problems.

As a rule, problems with gums begin with gingivitis - inflammation of the mucosa - the main symptoms of which are swelling and redness. If the disease is not treated, then periodontitis occurs - purulent discharge and tooth mobility are added to the above symptoms. There is already an urgent need to search for gum disease therapy as self-medication can be critical leading to periodontal disease. The latter is dangerous because it proceeds without acute symptoms but ultimately leads to tooth loss. Sometimes the only sign of the periodontal disease is the exposure of the necks and roots of the teeth, even without soreness and bleeding.

What Causes Gum Diseases

The cause of gum disease in the vast majority of cases lies in improper care and neglect of health, irregular and careless teeth cleaning, or with products that do not provide the necessary protection for the mucous membrane. Microorganisms living in the oral cavity are happy to absorb food debris on the gums and teeth. Thanks to their active work, soft plaque on the teeth gradually turns into a tan stone. Gums become weak and inflamed, and consequently, gingivitis develops. Hormonal changes in the body only favor this process; therefore, in adolescents, pregnant women and people with endocrine problems, the disease is more common. Gingivitis can also occur due to damage from uneven fillings, improperly installed prostheses, bumps, burns, etc.

If the destructive effect of bacteria is not stopped, the inflammatory process will begin to spread to other areas of the periodontium. So periodontitis appears - a consequence of the not-cured-in-time gingivitis. People with the wrong bite are more prone to it. The general condition of the body also affects gum health. Gums and mucous membranes of the mouth react sharply to a deficiency of vitamins D, C, A, E, P, K, of the entire group B.

The list of periodontal disease causes looks as follows:

1. Microorganisms
2. Inadequate or poor oral care
3. Tartar
4. Improper dental implants
5. Smoking and vitamin deficiencies
6. Gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system diseases
7. Hereditary predisposition or weakening of the body's protective functions.

Symptomatology

Gum inflammation proceeds in stages:

• Swelling and redness of the gums, excessively soft tissues
• Blood vessels are weakened, as can be seen by the appearance of blood on the brush or dental floss
• Tooth sensitivity increases, as the gums sag, the neck of the tooth is exposed
• The slightest irritation becomes a source of pain
• The surface and outlines of the gums look heterogeneous
• Unpleasant odor of the mouth

Helpful Tips To Keep Your Gums And Teeth Healthy

The treatment of periodontal disease is harder than its prevention. For the prevention of gum inflammation, a whole range of hygienic and general health measures is needed. It is necessary to prevent the appearance of tartar, maintain a favorable microflora of the oral cavity, prevent the growth of microbes that cause inflammation, and properly carry out hygiene procedures for caring for the oral cavity.

Integrated prevention includes such activities as:

• Hygiene of the oral cavity, the use for regular care of the right gum disease toothpaste, periodontal disease toothpaste, and toothbrush
• Compulsory visits to the doctor twice a year and periodontal disease therapy. When the first signs of inflammation appear, run to the emergency dentist.
• Treatment of somatic diseases
• Observing the correct diet with the introduction of a large number of products in the menu containing a lot of fiber and vitamins such as fruits and vegetables. It is advisable to eat without heat treatment.
• Introduce celery, apples, and carrots into the daily diet
• The use of mouthwashes with antiseptic properties that do not destabilize the balance of microflora in the mouth.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Sophie Zoria an independent author with passion in topics that bring value to your life, such as tech trends, marketing, health care, and much more. Welcome to her writer's world: https://medium.com/@sophie_65309

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com. 

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