Dental gum disease is not just one thing, but a combination of things. It is gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, and can progress to periodontitis, which is the inflammatory disease affecting the tissue around the teeth. Gingivitis is usually caused by bacterial plaque that collects in the small gaps between the gums and teeth and by tartar that forms on the teeth. This part of gums disease can occur over years and cause deep pockets between the teeth and gums and the loss of bone that is around the teeth.
Periodontitis is several inflammatory diseases affecting the tissue situated around the teeth. Periodontitis involves the progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated can lead to the loss of teeth. The main cause of periodontal gum disease is gingivitis which comes from poor oral hygiene. Other things that contribute to this are poor eating habits, underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and social factors.
Gum disease symptoms are difficult to spot at first. Things to look for are redness or bleeding of the gums while brushing your teeth, biting into food or using floss, gum swelling that keeps happening, persistently bad breath, gum recession or what appears to be tooth lengthening and loose teeth. Prevention of gum diseases comes from brushing properly every day regularly, flossing using dental floss, using an antiseptic mouthwash and regular dental check ups. It is noted that there are some mouthwashes that can reverse some of the effects of gingivital advanced gum disease before it progresses into periodontitis. Check with your dentist or dental hygienist of the types of mouthwashes available.
The treatment for gum disease will vary depending on what stage your teeth are in. There is scaling and planning which is the removal of dental plaque above and below the gum line, dental or periodontal surgery which removes the plaque and helps repair the bone around the teeth, and also laser plaque removal.
Your dentist or periodontist will know which treatment is right for you and your teeth. As an alternative, there is one widely talked about gum disease natural treatment. Honey has been studied in New Zealand and has shown to help curb the bacterium that accumulates around the teeth and gums.
