What Are the Causes of Gum & Teeth Diseases?

Healthy gums are necessary for strong, beautiful teeth. As many as three out of four people have some degree of gum (periodontal) disease. Early signs include bad breath, bleeding when you brush and soreness. The main culprit is plaque, a bacteria-filled film that coats your teeth, hardens into tartar and irritates gums. This causes the gums to separate from the teeth and form "pockets."

Consideraitons

• Brushing your teeth for two minutes a day with plain water can effectively remove bacteria and plaque stuck to your teeth. Also, you will be less prone to gum disease if you regularly eat cheese and other dairy products. Dairy is rich in calcium, a nutrient that nourishes gum tissue, just like it does to your bones.

Warning

• Periodontal disease affects the health of your teeth and gums. Left unchecked and untreated, the condition often leads to tooth loss, and--since the bacteria can go into your bloodstream--contribute to a a variety of illnesses, including heart disease. In a recent University of Buffalo study, researchers found that gum disease more than doubles your risk of clogged arteries because the bacteria that infect gums also trigger artery-damaging inflammation, and also speed the build up of plaque. Also, if your gums are receding, this is considered a sign of osteoporosis, which is a brittle bone condition that affects one in three women at some point in their lives.

Risk Factors

• Many types of teeth and gum disease exist. Gingivitis is a serious infection of the gums and often the first indication that something is wrong with your gums. If it's left untreated, this condition can lead to a more serious and destructive type of gum disease, known as periodontitis, an infection of the tissues that help to anchor your teeth, which can cause loss of the bone that holds a tooth into its socket.

Identification

• Since periodontitis affects more than the gums, regular brushing and flossing, although the best thing you can do for your gums, will not control this infection. A dentist who specializes in gum diseases must treat periodontitis. Usually, there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Pain, lose teeth and abscesses do not occur until the disease is in its advanced stages. Your dentist will refer you to a periodontist if she notices during a regular check up that you have a form of gum disease, which develops as a result of poor brushing and no flossing.

Prevention/Solution

• Laser-treated gums can help to re-grow healthy tissue that connects the gums to the teeth, plus improve some of the bone loss. In this treatment, a laser light is aimed into the pockets that form around your teeth. This vaporizes inflamed tissue and kills bacteria. The laser then seals each pocket by "gluing" the gum back to the teeth. While traditional gum surgery, such as gum grafting, does improve the condition, this new laser therapy sparks the growth of healthy new tissue or bone.

Benefits

• There is no bleeding, no cutting, no swelling and no pain in laser-treated therapy. You may experience just a little tenderness on the first day. Also, you don't need to have a checkup for about six months to a year. With traditional gum surgery, you have to see your dentist for a check up every three months to make sure you don't have any plaque build up. If your dental insurer pays for traditional gum surgery, your insurance should also cover laser gum treatment.