Dental infection and Gum diseases

What is dental infection?

Dental infections are one of the many infections that affect the mouth. Gum disease is an example which is a bacterial infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. Examples of gum disease are:-

Gingivitis is a mild gum disease that only affects the gingival, or gums, the tissue surrounding the teeth

Periodontitis is a gum disease that progresses and spread below the gum line to damage the tooth – supporting tissues and bones.

What causes gum disease?

Every mouth constantly produces a clear, sticky substance called plague. This plague contains bacteria. The bacteria in plaque make poisons, or toxins, that irritate the gums and cause the tissues to break down. If you don’t remove the plaque from the teeth, it can spread below the gum line and damage the bone that supports the teeth. With time plaque hardens into substance called tartar that has to be removed by a dentist.

                You are more likely to get gum disease if you:-

·         Do not clean your teeth well

·         Smoke or use spit tobacco

·         Have gum disease in your family

·         Have a condition that makes it harder for your body to fight infection, such as:

o   High level of stress

o   Low nutrients in diet

o   Uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS or leukemia

How can gum disease be prevented?

Good oral care is one of the most effective ways to prevent a gum disease.

·         Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

·         Floss once a day

·         Visit a dentist for regular check up and teeth cleansing

·         Don’t use tobacco products.

What are the risks of gum disease?

Having a gum disease may:-

·         Increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a premature, low-birth-weight baby.

·         It may cause heart disease in that a bacteria found in the gum is co related with the bacteria that causes the same.

How is gum disease treated?

If you have gingivitis, you will probably be able to reverse it by daily brushing, flossing and regular cleaning at your dentists office.

If your gum disease has advanced to Periodontitis, your dentist will clean your teeth using a method called root planning and scaling. This removes the plaque and tartar build up both above and below the gum line. You may also need to take antibiotics to help get rid of infection in your mouth. If your gum disease is severe, you may need to have surgery.

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