It is unusual to have bleeding gums. Something’s wrong with your gums is what this means. Not knowing anything about good oral hygiene or not having dental insurance results to Americans disregarding this issue. 80 percent of Americans suffer from gum disease according to the U.S.Food and Drug Administration. At one point, 98 percent of patients from Parkway dental care have some stage of gum disease.
Gum disease has two main stages namely gingivitis and periodontitis. The two diseases can be prevented such that gingivitis through good oral hygiene and periodontitis through control only but in the long run will lead to tooth loss. Once periodontitis consumes the gums, it is there forever.
The awful signs of gingivitis are having a bad breath and red, swollen, bleeding gums. The teeth are surrounded by the gums completely and the teeth are firmly rooted in the gums, in gingivitis. Often times, gingivitis precedes periodontitis though it does not always lead to it. The tissues around the teeth that support and protect it are being infected by periodontitis, a chronic bacterial infection. The disease’ major cause is bacterial plaque.
Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. Without good oral hygiene, it eventually turns into tartar. A professional cleaning is the only way to remove tartar. This condition gets worse if it is not monitored although it is not fatal.
The bone grasps the root of the tooth located in the gums. The disease’ progress results to consuming the bone, gums and other supporting structures of the teeth. At this point of gum disease, inner layer of gums and bone separate from the teeth which causes the formation of pockets where anaerobic bacteria will thrive in. If left unnoticed, gum disease will not only result to permanent tooth loss but the chances of having a stroke and heart attack will be higher.
Gum disease has also been linked to other medical conditions recently and not only to heart problems and stroke. Severe osteopenia, uncontrolled diabetes, preterm or low birthweight babies, respiratory infections and heart disease are the illnesses that have been associated with gum disease in the last 10 years. The bacteria in the mouth are also the same bacteria that infect the heart, according to what they found. The connective tissues and blood vessels are easily penetrated by negative bacterial substances and live bacteria from the mouth according to the recent article, Periodontal Medicine found in the journal Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. It states that this systemic challenge has the potential to affect tissues and organs at distant sites.
A reservoir for molecules are the affected pockets around the teeth which enhance inflammatory response that can enter systemic circulation and induce systemic effects, based on the two female authors of the article. Moreover, these two pathways may be responsible for systemic effects on heart health, the developing fetus, diabetes, and the respiratory health of elderly patients, according to them.
It is recommended that you visit this site for resources on gum disease treatment. Further information on implants teeth can be found there.