WHAT DOES A SMILE COST? A smile costs nothing but your image! Yes! Thats true! Many professions need but a beautiful smile! But, can you risk a simple smile? Be true to yourself. Well if you have been smoking for long, surely you would give a second thought prior to flashing your yellow teeth. But, thats not the end of the world! Science has brought for you the panacea to all your gum or peridontal (periodontal) problems. Heres an overview of the periodontal disease. The article will also guide you to six extremely easy steps to make healthy your teeth as well the gums that hold them. PROBING INTO PERIDONTAL DISEASE Peridontal disease pertains to the ailment that weakens your teeth and gums. The disease attacks the very bases that support the gums which in turn hold the teeth. As the tissues and other sustaining structures fall off, your teeth and gums would definitely be affected. Periodontitis can cause tooth loss in adults. FACTORS LEADING TO PERIDONTAL DISEASE There are many factors leading to the periodontal disease. The common ones among them are as follows: teeth that are crowded or mal-aligned; poor oral habit or hygiene; imbalanced diet; use of improper (oversized or ill-fitting) dental devices like retainers or dentures; broken teeth or fillings; and use of some medications that make the mouth dry. Besides these factors, certain chronic physiological problems like diabetes, cancers, HIV can also lead to periodontal diseases. During pregnancy also, many patients complain of periodontal disease symptoms. GINGIVITIS THE FIRST SIGN OF PERIDONTAL DISEASE Beware of the gingivitis syndrome because periodontal disease starts with it. When one is affected by Gingivitis, there would surely be gum irritation. This symptom appears owing to the build up of tartar and plaque. PLAQUE & TARTAR Plaque is the strata formed atop the gums and teeth. It assumes the appearance of a sticky and soft paste. Plaque is constituted of saliva, debris of food items and bacteria. The most problematic part of plaque formation is that dedicated teeth and gum brushing will remove it only temporarily. However, immediately after the brushing, the plaque starts forming on the surface of the gums and teeth. Over a period, plaque will calcify (harden). This is the stage for the building up of tartar or calculus. Tartar is very adamant and soon gets deposited in several layers. To remove it would require the help of dentists. The job is as strenuous as removing the scale formation on a kettle. Tartar makes the teeth appear yellow or brownish. Thats the time when the smile would really cost you your image! What is more, tartar provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and plaque. HOW GINGIVITIS GROWS? Approximately 90 per cent of the adult people are affected by gingivitis. Most of these people remain oblivious about the silent development of gingivitis as it is initially painless. By and by, gingivitis can cause serious health implications. There can be swollen gums and bleeding while eating or brushing. If left unattended, gingivitis can even lead to indigestion and other tummy problems. PYORRHEA, PYORRHOEA OR PERIODONTITIS Gingivitis can aggravate to periodontitis or pyorrhea. This is an extreme infectious situation when the teeth supporting bone starts eroding. Blisters can also appear. Pyorrhea signs are bad breath, painful gums and bleeding. The primary reasons of pyorrhea are excessive alcohol, smoking, poor mouth hygiene, poor nutrition, improper brushing, glandular disorders, chronic illness, and blood ailments. Smokers are more prone to develop pyorrhea and lose teeth than others. WHAT CAN VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES CAUSE? Vitamin or Nutritional deficiencies can create such situations when a person can have pyorrhoea. So take enough of wholesome foods that have niacin, folic acid, calcium, vitamin C and bioflavonoids. A general deficiency in the nutrition roster or deficiencies of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) can lead to dryness and cracking at the mouth corners. While cracked or dry lips can be due to allergy, red and raw mouth tissue can be a stress sign. A reddish, smooth tongue can point to poor diet or anaemia. Beware! Sores beneath the tongue can lead to mouth cancer. Have regular dental checkups. These examinations will detect such conditions. The early they are detected, the chances are brighter of the symptoms being tackled effectively CHASING AWAY PERIDONTAL BLUES The 10-fold path to a problem-free smile and a moth sans bacteria is as follows: First, always gurgle at least thrice after every time you take a bite of something. Secondly, dont forget to brush your gums and teeth at least three times daily. Third, brushing the teeth after supper is most important. The bacteria can nibble at the food leftovers in the teeth and between the teeth the entire night. So, brush them away before you hit the bed. Fourth, dont make brushing an exercise. Treat is as a habit and do it in a systematic manner. Many among us are happy to get over with the act as fast as we can. But thats just not the way to brush your teeth and the gums. Fifth, its not the amount of toothpaste but the way you brush that matters. It doesnt require a brush end-to-end coverage of toothpaste. On the other hand, just an inch spread of paste would do. Sixth, ensure that the toothbrush is first softened with water and also that you gurgle. Dont brush a dry mouth. Seven, brush the teeth and the gums using a circular movement. Eight, dont be hard on the teeth or the gums. No use sparing with tem. They are vital and very sensitive. If you put too much pressure, the brush or a tooth may get broken. Or the gums may get torn and you will not only bleed but also have a stinging pain. Nine, after brushing, use white colored cotton linen to polish the teeth. That will give them a shine. Last but not the least, (for gods sake) never use a pin end to prick the teeth. You will end up having more problems. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Try chewing the soft branches of neem tree. Chewing raw adrak or ginger can also take care of the bacteria. The chewed ends of the neem tree can be used as a brush. In fact, this modified brush carries out a two-pronged operation. First, the loose ends bring out the leftovers from between the teeth and from between the teeth and the gums. Secondly, the neem juice neutralizes the bacteria in your mouth. Nowadays, there are many chewing gums that promise to act hard on the tartar and the plaque and give back the dazzling shine to the teeth. Before going for them check out that they are not sweetened. Else it may be problematic for the diabetics. NUTRITION READY RECKONER Preferably adopt the habit of having a high-fibre diet. Include fruit, pulses, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Stay clear of refined, fast or soft foods. Remember the wholefoods provide the body the necessary nutrients and also the exercise (while you chew them) to the teeth and the gums. Ensure that you take adequate quantity of vitamins A, B, C, and E, besides bioflavonoids, and Co-enzyme Q10. The important items are magnesium, iron, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, calcium, potassium, and natural sodium from vegetables (not the table salt). Simply say NO! to syrups, soft drinks, white rice, white flour, fruit juices, and above all sugar. COSMETIC DENTISTRY Above all, the best answer for anybody having any type of dentistry problems can opt for cosmetic dentistry. Today, one can avail of these procedures at very affordable prices. The most popular techniques used in cosmetic dentistry are customized porcelain veneers, and tooth whitening. There are also provisions for full-mouth restorations. THE GENE CONNECTION Medical researchers are trying to find out why certain people suffering from periodontal disease respond positively to medical treatment while others do not. Many of them feel that there are genetic reasons behind it. There is also a simultaneous effort to classify the various periodontal ailments on the expression of the genes in the gums that are inflamed. PERIODONTITIS CLASSIFICATION Periodontitis is broadly classified into aggressive and chronic categories. The classification is based on clinical signs. The dentist takes into consideration the patients oral health and medical history. But as the signs are same in both the cases, it becomes rather difficult at times to categorize the diseases. Hence the scientists are attempting to find out a plausible means of diagnosing periodontal disease. |
