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Causes of Peridontal Disease

More adults lose their teeth to peridontal disease than any other reason. Besides losing teeth, periodontal disease can lead to even more life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, respiratory problems and diabetes. Peridontal disease begins with bacteria, plaque and tartar accumulating around the teeth and gums. The longer it remains there, the more it eats away at the bone, causing bad breath. Many people think that peridontal disease is reversible, but it can't be reversed because the bone isn't able to grow back. However, there are steps to arrest the condition such as having regular deep cleaning (root planning) every three to six months.

  1. Identification

    • Periodontal disease is another name for gum disease. Terms such as gum disease, bone loss and periodontal disease are words that are used interchangeably, sharing the same meaning. Gum disease is a serious problem which any people try to ignore. If peridontal disease goes untreated a patient can lose her teeth and be forced to wear dentures.

    Poor Dental Hygiene

    • Poor dental hygiene involves not caring for your teeth by failing to brush and floss them regularly. When this happens, a colorless film of mucous known as bacterial plaque collects on your teeth and gums. Bacterial plaque is the most common cause of periodontal disease. Excess plaque makes gums inflamed, causing them to bleed when teeth are brushed.

    Use of Tobacco Products

    • Nicotine constricts blood vessels of the gums, leading to periodontal disease. Besides cigarettes, other tobacco products can endanger your oral health. For example, smokeless tobacco can make gums recede, increasing the odds of bone loss and fibers holding teeth in place. Nicotine found in nicotine gum, which is used to help stop smoking, can also be harmful.

    Hormonal Changes in Women

    • Although gum care is important all times of a woman's life, more care is needed when undergoing puberty or other hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause. Because gums can be sensitive, they can have a strong reaction to hormonal changes, leading to gum problems. Also, pregnant women with periodontal disease are more likely to have low-weight preterm babies.

    Stress and Medications

    • Besides being linked to health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure and other conditions, stress may also cause peridontal disease. This is because the body is often unable to fight off infection when it's stressed. Taking drugs such a anti-depressants, certain heart medications and oral contraceptives can cause gum problems. Notify your doctor, dentist and other health care professionals of medications you take, as well as overall health changes.

    Teeth Ghashing and Grinding

    • Many people don't realize that they gnash and grind their teeth while sleeping, taking tests or trying to solve problems at work. This type of wear on your teeth adds excess pressure on supporting teeth tissues, increasing the rate that peridontal tissues are destroyed. To solve this problem dentists recommend wearing a night guard on your teeth when you sleep.

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