Periodontal disease, better known simply as gum disease, is
the single most common cause of tooth loss in adults. It is
an inflammatory condition that attacks the gums, bone and
other underlying, supporting structures of the teeth.
The leading cause? Plaque is the most common culprit. Plaque
is a colorless film of bacteria that forms on the teeth,
mixing with sugars and starches in the diet to form acids(
and other by-products ) in the mouth. Gums then become
irritated, tender and swollen, often times bleeding easily
when brushing or flossing.
If plaque is not removed from your teeth through proper
daily oral hygiene, it will harden to form tartar around the
necks of the teeth, leading to further complications with
the gums.
When gums pull away from the teeth as a consequence of the
above, small pockets form between the teeth and the gums.
These pockets then become filled with more plaque.
Eventually, as the pockets deepen, it becomes impossible for
you to properly clean the plaque out, ultimately leading to
potential bone structure damage as the underlying support
erodes away.
Other causes of Periodontal Disease Include:
Physical and Chemical irritants
Food, tobacco, alcohol and the improper use of dental floss, brushing or toothpicks
may irritate gum tissue Abnormal oral conditions or habits
Badly aligned teeth, poorly fitting bridges or partial dentures.
Harmful habits such as grinding the teeth or chewing ice can also prove to be problematic
Poor Diet
Nutritional deficiencies have been shown in studies to belinked to the bodies ability to fight infection
Pregnancy
Hormonal level fluctuations have been shown to cause a temporary condition known as “pregnancy gingivitis”
Medications/Diseases
Oral contraceptives, steroids and cancer therapy medications may have a negative impact as well. Diabetes, Uremia, liver cirrhosis and anemia are amongst many diseases that have been shown to have a detrimental effect on the health of your gums.
Lets take a quick look at some of the signs you may have periodontal disease:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth
- Red,swollen or tender gums Receded or shrunken gums that pull
away from the teeth
- Pain when chewing
- Changes in your bite, or in the way your dentures fit
- Chronic bad breath, or bad taste in your mouth
- Teeth that are overly sensitive to hot and cold foods or beverages
If you are displaying any of these signs, or feel you are
sucessitable to any of the above causes of periodontal
disease, why not give us a call and schedule an appointment?
Gum disease may not be fun, but it can be treated through
any number of modern advancements in dentistry, and you most
defenitely do not need to live with the inconvienience,
discomfort or further future risk that periodontal disease
presents in your plan for optimal oral hygiene and health.
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Providing clean, comfortable and state of the art cosmetic dentistry services in los angeles, and helping to educate people worldwide on the benefits of great oral health, and a beautiful smile.
Tags: la dentist, los angeles dentist, west los angeles dentist
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