A large percentage of the entire population in the United States are suffering from gum and periodontal diseases, and if you are one of these people, you can still get treated. But what does it really mean when you say periodontal diseases?
Let us first define what periodontics means. Periodontics is referred to as the study of the gums and the other supporting tissues and structures of your teeth. It involves the study on the diseases affecting them, the conditions, as well as the treatments. The dental expert who focuses on this field is called a periodontist.
Periodontal diseases refer to the conditions and infections that are affecting these structures, tissues and gums around your teeth. If it is still on its early stage, it can be called gingivitis, which is an infection that affects the gums but if it advances to a severe stage, the other tissues can also get affected and involved. The primary culprits behind these gum and periodontal diseases are dental plaque and bacteria.
Many studies and researches over the years have been conducted in order to establish a link between the existence of these diseases and certain serious conditions. Although more research are still needed, these are some of the associations that have been found.
- Atherosclerosis and heart disease. If you have a gum disease then you can also have an increased risk of heart diseases due to blocked or clogged arteries, and when this happens, your heart condition may only be worsened.
- Premature birth. A pregnant woman who neglects her oral health can easily develop gum diseases because of the hormonal imbalance in the body. And if she has a gum disease and it is not treated, chances are she will deliver the baby too early. There is also an increased likelihood for the baby to have low birth weight.
- Respiratory diseases. If you have developed gum diseases, there is also a good chance for you to develop lung disease or if you have an existing lung disease, then I can possibly get worse. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth that can travel to the other parts of your body and reach your other organs.
- gum disease is also known to heighten the risk of suffering from because the arteries are clogged
- If you have unhealthy gums, and have diabetes at the same time, your diabetes may possibly get worse because your blood sugar will be a lot more difficult to control when you have gum diseases than when your gums are healthy.
How does a periodontal disease begin?
Dental plaque and bacteria are known to be the major causes of a periodontal disease. Plaque is the sticky deposit that forms on your teeth after you eat and unable to brush for a couple of hours. Bacteria live in these plaque and in order to kill these bacteria, your immune system naturally releases substances to fight off bacteria and cause the inflammation of your gums and the surrounding supporting bones and tissues. Now this is why there is swelling and bleeding. This is now the first stage of a periodontal disease called gingivitis which if left untreated, can cause a tooth to loosen eventually.
Periodontal diseases can be prevented and it should start by practicing good oral hygiene from home and taking regular trips to your dentist for checkups and consultations. The ideal recommended number of visits in a year would be at least twice in a year or once in every six months. However, if you already have existing oral health conditions, then you may need to visit your dentist more often.
To be able to thoroughly remove the plaque from your tooth surfaces, you just have to make sure that you brush and floss properly using the right techniques. Once there is a tartar buildup, it is important that you go to your dentist for a professional dental cleaning to be able to clean the areas of your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach.
You cannot afford to skip or miss out on these important oral hygiene habits because it can lead to very serious problems in the end.
For more information on periodontics, you can call Napa Valley Dental Group at [phone_number], or visit us at 2119 Jefferson Street Napa, CA 94559.