How Periodontal Disease affects the Gum.
The mouth is one very delicate part of the human body, we know how necessary food and water are to the human body and the mouth is a convenient channel through which either of them could get through, when there is a problem with any part of the mouth, it automatically affects the entire body. The gum could get affected by a disease, and the quality of life of the individual involved will become seriously affected.
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At the point when your gums get swollen or begin to bleed, during or after brushing your teeth, it could signify the presence of periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases mainly occur due to the infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surrounds the teeth and serves as a source of support to the teeth. Periodontal, at its early stage, is known as, gingivitis at this point the gums could become swollen and red, they may even bleed in that case, but when a worst-case scenario happens, that is when it gets to the point of, periodontitis, the gums could pull away from the tooth, the bone there could get lost and the teeth may loosen or possibly fall out.
Tooth decay and periodontal disease are the two biggest dental diseases an adult could have as they pose serious danger to their dental health, and it is more common in adults, likely seen in kids. It has also been found to be more common in men than it is in women, especially in those who live below the usual poverty level and have a lesser level of higher education.
Periodontal disease occurs when the bacteria in the mouth decide to infect the tissues surrounding the tooth, therefore causing inflammation around the tooth, and leading to the outburst of the disease. At the point when bacteria remain on the teeth for a long time, they create a film known as "plaque", the plaque after some time gets hardened and forms tartar, another name for tartar is calculus.
The build-up of tartar could spread beneath the gum line, making it more difficult for the teeth to get clean, and when that happens, it would take a dental care professional to take out the tartar and at the same time put an end to the progression of the periodontal disease.
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Proper details on the types of gum infections.
Having brushed through the types of existing gum infection above, there is still a lot of details about the different mentioned types of gum infections that need to be studied.
Gingivitis occurs due to an overgrowth of dental plaque. Most often caused by improper dental hygiene, other factors like medications, lack of vitamin C, hormonal changes, and exposure to bismuth(found in some make-up products). Although not all types of gingivitis are related to gum overgrowth because others are not; if you have a particular viral or a fungal infection like thrush, or if you do have an impacted tooth or a tooth that has failed to completely emerge.
While reading, I will like you to imagine this description in order to get better clarity, you know that the gum in the actual sense usually gets attached to the teeth at a lower point than the gum edges we see on the surface, this creates a little space known as the sulcus. The probability of food and plaque getting trapped in this created space is high, and this would create a gum infection called gingivitis. If it is left untreated, it would begin to cause complications like; tooth loss with the progression of infection, the tooth may become loose and unstable and injury could be created to the soft tissue and the bone supporting the tissue.
I mentioned earlier that, there is a possibility of having a red or swollen gum with gingivitis is possible, but it can also occur with other symptoms, such as;
- A gum that bleeds every time you brush or floss.
- Tooth loss.
- Pus created between the teeth and the gum.
- Pain while chewing.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- Change in teeth structure especially after you must have taken a bite.
- Pain while chewing.
- Bad breath that fails to go even after brushing.
- Partial dentures that do not fit any longer.
During the diagnosis of gingivitis, the oral dentition would have the gum probed with a small ruler, this ruler is a way to look out for possible inflammation, measuring any pocket around the teeth, a dentist may also use an x-ray to detect if there is bone loss or not. If you want to treat gingivitis, then you need to be ready to practice good oral hygiene, you also have to cut back on smoking, antibiotics may be prescribed, deep cleaning of the teeth, and of course, surgery (If applicable).
There is a greater chance of having the periodontal disease as an adult if you engage in one of these things;
- If you use/smoke tobacco.
- You have a bad dental health practice.
- You fail to see a dentist when you feel something is wrong with your oral health.
- You have a family history of gum disease or early tooth loss (especially close family members).
- You have diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis.
- If you have immune system disorders like AIDS and HIV.
If you want to prevent any form of tooth issue, then ensure to pay a regular visit to a certified dentist, ensure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with good fluoride toothpaste, and try to floss your teeth every day as well, you should also not forget the place of healthy eating. A big twist to periodontal disease is that, upon successful treatment, it could still come back, when you notice a new sign of a swollen or bleeding gum, speak to your dentist instantly.
Conclusion.
Oral health is very important and we must address it as such, any discomfort, redness, or bleeding with the gum should be reported to the dental clinic as soon as possible. No health issue should be treated lightly, not even one of dental care.
References.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gum-disease/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21482-gum-periodontal-disease
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16620-periodontitis
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gingivitis-periodontal-disease
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/periodontal-diseases
In the exercise of the medical profession I have been able to realize the importance of the mouth as a space to assess, as an area of the body that speaks of other ailments.
Undoubtedly, it is important that people take care of their mouths, that they comply with hygiene, with the assessment by specialists in the area.
Thank you for the information you have shared with us.
Thank you for the affirmation @apineda, oral health is very necessary.
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This is very educating.
Dental pain is one of the worst kind of pain. I wouldn't wish it on my enemy.
I tell you sincerely, so painful.
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