Periodontitis
Unhealthy teeth are nothing to be embarrassed or guilty about (unless, of course, they are the product of deliberate negligence). Poor oral health does not necessarily stem from a lack of proper hygiene and care. Our diets are a primary cause of many diseases, and our oral health is just as affected by them as, say, our stomachs and livers are.
Today, we will venture into the world of teeth and gums and discuss what periodontitis is, its causes and treatments, and overall oral healthcare.
Gingivitis
Before we hop onto the periodontitis tour bus, we will discuss a gum disease called gingivitis.
What is gingivitis? "Gingiva" means gums, and "itis" means inflammation: inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is swollen gums that are sensitive, bleeding and painful. You might have problems brushing your teeth (a progressive cycle it is, you avoid cleaning your teeth properly, the disease gets worse, you nearly skip even a light brushing of your teeth, gingivitis gets worse, and so on.)
How does gingivitis occur? Gingivitis is often the result of poor dental care that allows plaque to build up around the teeth. The plaque around the teeth eventually hardens up, irritating the gums surrounding the teeth. This constant irritation causes the gums to weaken: the gums begin to recede from the base of the teeth, where the plaque is trapped. The receding of the gums takes away the support the gums provide the teeth, exposing sensitive tissue that can easily hurt by eating and even light brushing.
When left untreated for too long, the gums become incredibly weak and tender, even loosening their grip on the teeth and making them loose in their places; gums rip and obtain injuries when eating hard food and when being brushed. The hardened plaque (called tartar) keeps building up and becomes unflatteringly visible above the receding, red gums. These symptoms further progress the disease, gradually making their way across the spectrum from gingivitis to periodontitis.
Fun Fact: The enamel, a substance covering our teeth, is the hardest part of our bodies.
Periodontitis
Now that we know a few things about how periodontitis occurs, we will have an in-depth discussion about what periodontitis is. Before we dig in, let us take a look at some of the basic structures of the teeth and gums.
Fun Fact: Most systemic diseases have been linked with our oral health.
Our teeth rest in sockets of bones known as alveoli (no, not the alveoli found in our lungs). Between the teeth and alveoli is a thin layer of a ligament (periodontal ligament), and it protects the inside of the sockets. The gums protect the sockets from the outside. A tooth has three parts: the crown that sticks out above the gum, the neck that lies between the crown and the root, which is the bottom part, hidden by the socket and gum.
Between the neck and gum is a little space called the gingival crevice, and in this gingival crevice is a substance called the gingival crevicular fluid. It helps fend off bacteria in the mouth.
Fun Fact: You can not see most of your tooth; about two-thirds of it is hidden under your gum.
So, now, what is periodontitis? It is an advanced form of gingivitis, and it can destroy the bones in our mouths if left untreated for too long and even cause serious health issues. The symptoms of this disease are:
- Red and swollen gums that are painful and bleed.
- Infected gums can sometimes fill up with pus, too.
- The gums begin to recede, so they make your teeth seem long.
- The teeth look unflattering with clumpy yellow plaque build-up.
- The teeth become loose.
- Constant bad breath and taste also occur.
- Sensitivity occurs while eating or drinking, or cleaning.
- There is a change in the way the upper row of teeth and the lower row come together.
The effect of periodontitis does not just stop in the mouth: the toxins released from the bacteria in the infected gums can lead to worse health issues such as heart diseases and aggravated diabetes. It has been suspected that gum diseases can give rise to health problems in people with allergies and asthma. A major complication caused by periodontitis is difficulty diagnosing and treating oral cancers.
Fun Fact: Periodontitis is a symptom of scurvy. Scurvy was common amongst sailors back in the day because they severely lacked Vitamin C. It is why most pirates in movies are shown with horrible teeth!
Causes of Periodontitis
By discussing gingivitis, we already know the basics of why periodontitis occurs. Let us take a closer look.
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Lack of Oral Hygiene and Care
Dental plaque is a substance that contains bacteria in it. It forms when the substances (saliva and other fluids) in our mouths combine with the food and drinks we consume. As it is, dental plaque forms on our teeth daily (within hours), which is why we should brush our teeth twice daily, too (and floss at least once). If we fail to keep up with the basics of oral hygiene, the plaque, which is soft when freshly formed, hardens over time. It leads to bad breath, a yellowish appearance of our teeth, and then dental problems.
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Smoking and Tobacco
This is no shocker. Studies show that smoking cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco impact the flow of blood in the gums and disable their ability to heal injuries. They affect the gum tissue, causing issues in their basic functioning. Smoking and chewing tobacco do not only cause periodontitis: they are also a leading cause of oral cancers and throat cancer.
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Lack of Nutrition
Inadequate diets are a primary cause of many health problems in the body. Just as the lack of iron gives us issues in our blood, the deficiencies of specific nutrients give us dental issues. Vitamin C, D, and calcium are some essential nutrients for the health of our teeth and gums. Vitamin C ensures that the tissue in our gums works efficiently in supporting our teeth by staying strong and healthy and healing fast enough to prevent infections. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium, and it is the job of calcium to strengthen our teeth and keep them sturdy.
Fun Fact: Flossing cleans up to 30% of your mouth.
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Bad Eating Habits
Did you know that frequent snacking can be harmful to our teeth and gums? It is true that the sugary and starchy goods form acids in our mouths (after combining with the bacteria in our mouths) and erode the protective enamel guarding our teeth. Once the protection of the enamel is gone, the teeth become susceptible to diseases, and their condition can affect the gums as well.
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Changes In Hormones
Hormonal changes are known for giving rise to many health-related problems, and they cause afflictions in the gums, too. Hormonal changes often occur in women (usually during pregnancy and menopause) and in teenagers during puberty. They affect the supply of blood to the gum tissue, and they make an affected person less likely to be able to fight back the toxins present in the plaque.
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Stress
Stress is the reason we lose hair, get blurry vision, premature wrinkles, and could be the reason why our gums show symptoms of gingivitis or periodontitis. Stress has the notorious ability to affect the immune system, rendering it ineffective against some ailments. When the immune system fails to defend the teeth against the bacteria found in plaque, our oral health quickly plummets. We become easy targets for diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
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Medications
More often than not, the side effects of most medicines involve drowsiness. Sometimes, some side effects can be worse than just feeling sleepy. Some common medications have substances that can aggravate dental problems. If gingivitis or periodontitis is already present in the gums, it can accelerate the symptoms.
Other causes for periodontitis can be genetics, underlying diseases, diabetes, etc.
Fun Fact: Your teeth are unique, just like your fingerprints too! No one has identical teeth.
Treatment of Periodontitis
There are stages of periodontitis from where there is no return. The damage inflicted by the disease may become irreversible. However, periodontitis has many treatments, varying depending on the severity of the condition.
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Scaling
In this procedure, tartar is cleaned from around the teeth and from the pockets that have formed between the teeth and the gums.
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Antibiotics
They are often prescribed to go along with dental procedures to give relief. However, they can also be used alone for the treatment of periodontitis as long as it has not reached an advanced stage. They also help control the infection.
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Root Planing
This method is practised to smooth down the roots of the teeth to get rid of bacteria and discourage their growth.
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Flap Surgery
When tartar deposits behind the gums require removal, the gums are lifted away from the teeth by incisions made in them. The tartar is then cleaned, and the incisions stitched.
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Dental Bone Grafting
In advanced periodontitis, the bone structure gets damaged. Dental bone grafting is a procedure where artificial bones are attached to the parts of the jaw that have been destroyed. Tissue grafting is also a method used for periodontitis treatment, and damaged gums and tissue get replaced here.
There are also other treatments for periodontitis that repair the damages inflicted on the gums and bones. Care after the treatments is also required to prevent contracting the disease again. It involves daily brushing, careful flossing, being mindful of the food eaten, and ensuring a healthier lifestyle by lowering stress factors.
How to prevent periodontitis? Proper hygiene, a healthy body, and a healthy mental state can decrease the chances of periodontitis and other diseases. The lack of these makes us susceptible to many problems because they weaken our immune systems.
Frequently Asked Questions About Periodontitis and Oral Problems
How long does it take for plaque to harden up and become tartar?
Within 48 hours, the plaque on your teeth will harden up, and in a few days, it becomes too hard to remove at home without a dentist's help.
What is pyorrhea?
Pyorrhea is just another name for periodontitis.
Can carbs affect our teeth?
Studies have shown that some types of carbs negatively affect the health of our teeth. Depending on how fast they get digested, carbs can cause inflammation.
Can we brush our teeth multiple times a day?
Three times in a day should be the maximum amount of times one should brush their teeth, and no more than two minutes. Excessive brushing can be abrasive, rubbing away enamel and ripping the gums, allowing them to become targets for infections.
Can toothpaste be swallowed?
Swallowing whole tubes of toothpaste is a hundred percent hazardous. While the small amount of toothpaste accidentally swallowed during brushing is completely harmless, consuming toothpaste in a large amount can result in an upset stomach, vomiting, weakness, etc.
What is the best method of brushing your teeth?
The best way to brush your teeth is to make sure you are patient and careful with the task. A rushed cleaning of the teeth will get you nowhere and may only increase your chances of getting dental problems.
You should first methodically brush the outer surface of your teeth before digging in deeper to the back and towards the gums (where you should be extra careful so that you do not hurt your gums). Use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from your tongue because it gives you a fresher breath.
Can periodontitis be treated at home?
Advanced stages of periodontitis can not be reversed without professional assistance. However, periodontitis — or gingivitis, more appropriately — can be treated in its earliest form by thorough cleaning and by using mouthwash or prescribed gels and ointments.
How can we keep our mouths smelling fresh all the time?
Here are some tips to keep your mouth smelling fresh:
- Brushing daily
- Flossing
- Using mouthwash
- Using mouth freshening sprays
- Rinsing after meals and snacks
- Drinking water and staying hydrated (dry mouths are smelly)
- Avoid eating food that makes your breath smell
- Get regular dental checkups
- Mints or spearmints
- Always replace your toothbrush after two or three months
- Avoid using tobacco and smoking
- Use chewing gums that are free of sugar
Can periodontitis kill people?
Periodontitis can increase our mortality rate by increasing our chances of getting heart attacks or cancers. The bacteria found in gum disease can travel into our bloodstreams and make us susceptible to a variety of illnesses. So, yes, the infections in your mouth can kill you.
What can you do once you have lost your tooth?
You have exactly one hour to get to a dentist with your tooth the moment that it falls out. Any longer, and your fallen tooth dies. Once it is dead, it cannot be put back into your mouth. In that case, you get an artificial tooth replacement. Dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures are some of the options available for replacing lost teeth.
What is the black substance on top of our molars in the back of our mouths?
The black substance you find on your teeth can be one of three things: cavities, dental calculus, or discoloration. If you want to know what it is that you have, rub the tip of your tongue over your tooth or use a toothpick to prod it lightly. If you can feel a hole in it, it is a cavity. If it feels bumpy, then it is dental calculus, and if you feel nothing at all, then it may be just discoloration.
What is dental calculus?
Dental calculus is tartar. It traps stains on the teeth. It makes us susceptible to teeth decay and gum infections because it can also trap plaque and bacteria in its crevices and make them hard to get rid of by brushing or flossing.
How can dental calculus be removed?
Dental calculus needs the attention of a professional, although some sources say that baking soda and salt can soften it enough to be brushed away.
Can charcoal really clean your teeth?
While charcoal can offer teeth-whitening properties, it is abrasive in nature, and using it too often can not only wear down our layer of protective enamel but injure our gums, as well. Charcoal also does not provide any protection from bacteria and infections.
Can we use baking soda to clean our teeth?
We can use baking soda to clean our teeth and whiten them, although it is better to be cautious while using it due to its mildly abrasive nature. Baking soda cannot offer the same protection that we can find in toothpaste with fluoride, even though it still has antibacterial properties that can help prevent gingivitis.
Is it necessary to use toothpaste?
Toothpaste is used only to add more benefits to brushing, which does up to 70% of your teeth's cleaning.
Fun Fact: In earlier days of some cultures, people used twigs from specific trees to act as toothbrushes. They are known as miswak, and they actually work perfectly!
What should you do if you get periodontitis during pregnancy?
It is essential for pregnant women to get regular checkups done. Due to the drastic change in their hormones, they become targets to a myriad of diseases, and ailments like periodontitis thrive in such conditions. In case a pregnant woman develops periodontitis, her top priority is to get it treated immediately so as to protect herself and the infant. Periodontitis during pregnancy can lead to the premature birth of an infant or an unhealthy baby.
Can children get periodontitis?
While children are a majority of people with cavities, it is rare for them to develop periodontitis at a tender age (it occurs more in teenagers and adults), and there have been few cases of periodontitis in children. They are more likely to just develop gingivitis instead.
Can cavities turn into periodontitis?
Yes, cavities can turn into periodontitis — if left untreated. Because the teeth and gums are so closely linked, issues in any of them can affect the other. If cavities are left untreated for too long, the bacteria can get to the soft tissue of the gums and turn into a gum disease which can get progressively destructive.
Can cutting sugar and carbs from your diet completely eliminate bad oral health?
Cutting down sugar and carbs from your diet can greatly decrease your chances of getting periodontitis, not completely eradicate the chances. Diet alone does not contribute to overall body health. Stress, causal conditions, and other factors are also responsible for gum diseases.
If not every day, how many times can we drink soda?
Once a week is better than every day, and once a month is better than once a week. And once a year is better than once a month. Basically speaking, you can stay healthy if you drink soda only once a week but if you want to drink it daily, keep it to one can (12 ounces) a day. Too much of soda can cause obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and tooth decay.
Should we brush our teeth immediately after eating or wait a while?
It is recommended that we wait a while before brushing our teeth after a meal. Acidic items in our meals (like tomatoes, lemons, oranges, etc.) make the enamel of our teeth soft, and brushing it right then can rub it off and make us lose its protection. It is advised that we wait thirty minutes before brushing our teeth after eating.
What happens if we swallow mouthwash?
Swallowed in a small amount, mouthwash is not particularly harmful and does not require panicking unless symptoms begin to show up. If a large amount of mouthwash gets consumed, it displays the following symptoms: dizziness, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or even seizures. It is best to seek help immediately once the symptoms start showing.
Should we brush our teeth before or after breakfast?
It is better to brush your teeth before having breakfast because it ensures that your mouth is clean and fresh from the night before and your meal does not mix up with plaque and bacteria.
We always recommend getting regular checkups by doctors for your overall body health. There are many things in the human body that can go haywire without your noticing, and it's important to catch sicknesses before they can sneak up on you. A better knowledge of your body is a path to a better lifestyle — and you can't obtain a happy life if your breath drives people away because you'd rather go shopping than flossing!
References
- https://www.dentalcare.com
- https://www.webmd.com
- https://www.dcwendtjrdds.com
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org
- https://www.mayoclinic.org
- https://loopperio.com
- https://www.deardoctor.com
- https://www.colgate.com
- https://renodentalassociates.com
- https://www.irvinedentalcare.com
- https://www.greentreedentalchicago.com
- https://advanceddentalartsnyc.co
