If you think brushing your teeth twice a day will keep you off the dentist's chair, think again. The gums that protect your teeth need tender loving care too. Periodontal tissues, which surround and support the teeth, are also vulnerable to diseases. Not following the right rituals of cleaning them can cause problems ranging from light inflammations to something as scary as loss of teeth.
Gum diseases like gingivitis (which is the inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (which can happen when gingivitis remains untreated) are the result of the bacteria that reside in the mouth.
Inching into gingivitis
While bad mouth odour can be indicative that all's not well in your mouth, the starting point of any gum disease is with the build-up of plaque on the teeth.
And plaque? Well, plaque is that sticky, yellowish layer that forms around your teeth. While some bacteria are needed for your body's daily functions, a lot of them are pretty harmful when they are not flushed out of the body, including those in and around the teeth. Brushing is the first step towards that hygiene. But sometimes, the plaque still remains unchecked either because of insufficient oral hygiene or because of skipping the advised once-in-six-months dental visits, giving vent to gum diseases like gingivitis.
That's when the gums around the teeth begin to feel itchy, swell up bleed and become rather painful. It is best not to delay the visit to the dentist.
A perilous problem
Your dentist might still be able to help remove the plaque from around the teeth area. If not treated even then, the plaque starts receding to areas under the teeth, affecting deeper tissues. The gingivitis has now transformed into a periodontal problem.
A more severe condition of gingivitis is when the mouth odor is worse and the inflamed gums around the teeth start detaching themselves from the tooth. The periodontal (which is derived from €Peoria', meaning around, and €dental', meaning teeth) tissues, that slip downward, form pockets or spaces between the tooth and the gum. Thereon, the tooth can even start loosening and then simply falling out.
Exposed to the pain
So who can get gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis? If you smoke, are diabetic and maintain poor oral hygiene, you have a big chance of inviting periodontal trouble. Sadly, heredity, being born with crooked teeth or hormonal changes like those in women can also put you at risk of gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Prevention parameters
€ Try not to miss your six-monthly dental appointments. The plaque deposit that doesn't go away with brushing can be spotted and scraped off by the dentist. At least such visits will alert you to a potential attack of periodontal gum diseases.
€ Brush and floss regularly. It helps reduce - and sometimes eliminate - plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth.
€ Introduce the habit of rinsing with a mouthwash soon after you are done with your brushing and flossing. A powerful mouthwash like Listerine gets into crevices of your mouth where the toothbrush or floss couldn't reach, and washes away germs that build plaque, thereby minimizing the onslaught of gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gum diseases like gingivitis (which is the inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (which can happen when gingivitis remains untreated) are the result of the bacteria that reside in the mouth.
Inching into gingivitis
While bad mouth odour can be indicative that all's not well in your mouth, the starting point of any gum disease is with the build-up of plaque on the teeth.
And plaque? Well, plaque is that sticky, yellowish layer that forms around your teeth. While some bacteria are needed for your body's daily functions, a lot of them are pretty harmful when they are not flushed out of the body, including those in and around the teeth. Brushing is the first step towards that hygiene. But sometimes, the plaque still remains unchecked either because of insufficient oral hygiene or because of skipping the advised once-in-six-months dental visits, giving vent to gum diseases like gingivitis.
That's when the gums around the teeth begin to feel itchy, swell up bleed and become rather painful. It is best not to delay the visit to the dentist.
A perilous problem
Your dentist might still be able to help remove the plaque from around the teeth area. If not treated even then, the plaque starts receding to areas under the teeth, affecting deeper tissues. The gingivitis has now transformed into a periodontal problem.
A more severe condition of gingivitis is when the mouth odor is worse and the inflamed gums around the teeth start detaching themselves from the tooth. The periodontal (which is derived from €Peoria', meaning around, and €dental', meaning teeth) tissues, that slip downward, form pockets or spaces between the tooth and the gum. Thereon, the tooth can even start loosening and then simply falling out.
Exposed to the pain
So who can get gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis? If you smoke, are diabetic and maintain poor oral hygiene, you have a big chance of inviting periodontal trouble. Sadly, heredity, being born with crooked teeth or hormonal changes like those in women can also put you at risk of gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Prevention parameters
€ Try not to miss your six-monthly dental appointments. The plaque deposit that doesn't go away with brushing can be spotted and scraped off by the dentist. At least such visits will alert you to a potential attack of periodontal gum diseases.
€ Brush and floss regularly. It helps reduce - and sometimes eliminate - plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth.
€ Introduce the habit of rinsing with a mouthwash soon after you are done with your brushing and flossing. A powerful mouthwash like Listerine gets into crevices of your mouth where the toothbrush or floss couldn't reach, and washes away germs that build plaque, thereby minimizing the onslaught of gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
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