Lifestyle changes
If regular brushing and flossing don't eliminate gum disease, your dentist may recommend rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. The popular mouthwash Listerine helps reduce plaque.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. It increases saliva flow and reduces inflammation and plaque build-up. Eat a well-balanced diet--and be sure to include plenty of fruit and vegetables.
They're rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that promotes gum health and healing. A report in the Journal of periodontology found that people who don't get enough vitamin C are almost 1.5 times more likely to develop gum disease that those who get the recommended 75 t0 90 mg daily. You'll definitely want to avoid sugary foods. They make the mouth more acidic and promote bacterial growth.
Finally, quit smoking. It increases gum inflammation by over-stimulating the immune system. One study found smokers 11 times more likely to harbour harmful oral bacteria than nonsmokers.
Medications
If your gums stay red and swollen after several weeks of good home care, your dentist might recommended that you use a prescription mouthwash that contains chlohexidine gluconate (Periogard). It reduces plaque by 55 percent and gingivitis by 30 to 40 percent.
It has an unpleasantly bitter taste, however, and it may stain your teeth or dental work. For those reasons, it's only prescribed when basic oral hygiene doesn't do the trick.
Procedures
When you have gum disease, you'll need regular cleanings every three months by a dental hygienist or a dentist who specialises in gum disease ( a periodontist). If you've had gingivitis for years, your
Gignivitis treatment depends on its severity. One common procedure is scaling(above left), in which plaque and tartar (yellow-brown hardened plaque) are scraped off the crown and roots. This is often followed by oral irrigation (above right), in which an antibiotic liquid is applied below the gum line to flush out bacteria and help gum tissue generate.
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PRESERVE YOUR GUMS, PROTECT YOUR HEART
you wouldn't think that what happens in your mouth could affect your heart, but that's exactly what studies have shown. People with gum disease are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke than those with healthy gums.
Researchers now think one of the organisms that causes gum disease, P. gingivalis, contributes to the formation of arterial plaques, fatty deposits in the arteries that can impede or block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. In a study in the journal Circulation, laboratory mice infected with this bacterium developed larger plagues than those that were germ-free.
It's not entirely clear how the germs that cause gum disease also damage the arteries. Most likely the bacteria secrete poisons, called endotoxins, into the bloodstream. The toxins trigger inflammation in the blood vessels, which in turn promotes the formation of plaques. Scientists believe that these endotoxins travel
from the mouth into the bloodstream.
But the bacterium isn't the ony culprit. In the animal studies, the only mice that developed arterial plaques after exposure to the germs were the ones that were also fed a high-fat diet. In addition, these mice had a genetic mutation that's been linked to heart diseases. still, any degree of arterial inflammation is potentially serious.
Experts are beginning to realise that keeping your gums infection-free may be one more important way that you can protect your heart.
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dentist may need to remove all of the accumulated plaque and tartar. This process is much more involved than a routine cleaning. It's called full-month debridement, or scaling and root planning. Over a period of weeks, the dentist will use manual instruments as well as ultrasound
to break down and remove tartar from your teeth. Damaged tissue will also be removed and the surfaces of the teeth as well as the roots will be smoothed, making it harder for plaque to accumulate later on. Regardless of whether you need a full-mouth debridement, your dentist will probably apply an antibiotic or dental rinse under the gums to eliminate the
possibility of infection (see above)
If deep rockets containing tartar remain underneath the gums even after extensive cleaning, you'll probably need gum surgery. The goal of surgery is to reduce the size of the pockets and allow the dentist to thoroughly clean away the accumulated tartar.
The most common procedure is called open flap curettage and involves cutting open a small flap in the gum to expose the tooth and root. Damaged tissue is cleaned or removed, and the gum flap is then put back is place.
Can gum disease ever be contagious?
It could be. Researchers have found that the bacteria P. gingivalis can be transmitted from an infected person to another through intimate contact over a long period of time. If you are being treated for gum disease, restrict kisses to quick pecks until your dentist or periodontist give you the all clear.
Natural methods
The herb bloodroot contains a chemical compound called sanguinarine, which has potent antibacterial properties. You can buy natural toothpaste and mouthwash containing this ingredient in health-food stores.
Another way to reduce gingivitis is to paint liquid folic acid along the gum line with a cotton swab twice a day. Or you can use a toothpaste that contains coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that may reduce gum inflammation. Yet another natural method is to massage your gums with powdered vitamin C, then rinse thoroughly with water. You should repeat this treatment once or twice a day for best results.
If regular brushing and flossing don't eliminate gum disease, your dentist may recommend rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. The popular mouthwash Listerine helps reduce plaque.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. It increases saliva flow and reduces inflammation and plaque build-up. Eat a well-balanced diet--and be sure to include plenty of fruit and vegetables.
They're rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that promotes gum health and healing. A report in the Journal of periodontology found that people who don't get enough vitamin C are almost 1.5 times more likely to develop gum disease that those who get the recommended 75 t0 90 mg daily. You'll definitely want to avoid sugary foods. They make the mouth more acidic and promote bacterial growth.
Finally, quit smoking. It increases gum inflammation by over-stimulating the immune system. One study found smokers 11 times more likely to harbour harmful oral bacteria than nonsmokers.
Medications
If your gums stay red and swollen after several weeks of good home care, your dentist might recommended that you use a prescription mouthwash that contains chlohexidine gluconate (Periogard). It reduces plaque by 55 percent and gingivitis by 30 to 40 percent.
It has an unpleasantly bitter taste, however, and it may stain your teeth or dental work. For those reasons, it's only prescribed when basic oral hygiene doesn't do the trick.
Procedures
When you have gum disease, you'll need regular cleanings every three months by a dental hygienist or a dentist who specialises in gum disease ( a periodontist). If you've had gingivitis for years, your
Gignivitis treatment depends on its severity. One common procedure is scaling(above left), in which plaque and tartar (yellow-brown hardened plaque) are scraped off the crown and roots. This is often followed by oral irrigation (above right), in which an antibiotic liquid is applied below the gum line to flush out bacteria and help gum tissue generate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESERVE YOUR GUMS, PROTECT YOUR HEART
you wouldn't think that what happens in your mouth could affect your heart, but that's exactly what studies have shown. People with gum disease are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke than those with healthy gums.
Researchers now think one of the organisms that causes gum disease, P. gingivalis, contributes to the formation of arterial plaques, fatty deposits in the arteries that can impede or block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. In a study in the journal Circulation, laboratory mice infected with this bacterium developed larger plagues than those that were germ-free.
It's not entirely clear how the germs that cause gum disease also damage the arteries. Most likely the bacteria secrete poisons, called endotoxins, into the bloodstream. The toxins trigger inflammation in the blood vessels, which in turn promotes the formation of plaques. Scientists believe that these endotoxins travel
from the mouth into the bloodstream.
But the bacterium isn't the ony culprit. In the animal studies, the only mice that developed arterial plaques after exposure to the germs were the ones that were also fed a high-fat diet. In addition, these mice had a genetic mutation that's been linked to heart diseases. still, any degree of arterial inflammation is potentially serious.
Experts are beginning to realise that keeping your gums infection-free may be one more important way that you can protect your heart.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dentist may need to remove all of the accumulated plaque and tartar. This process is much more involved than a routine cleaning. It's called full-month debridement, or scaling and root planning. Over a period of weeks, the dentist will use manual instruments as well as ultrasound
to break down and remove tartar from your teeth. Damaged tissue will also be removed and the surfaces of the teeth as well as the roots will be smoothed, making it harder for plaque to accumulate later on. Regardless of whether you need a full-mouth debridement, your dentist will probably apply an antibiotic or dental rinse under the gums to eliminate the
possibility of infection (see above)
If deep rockets containing tartar remain underneath the gums even after extensive cleaning, you'll probably need gum surgery. The goal of surgery is to reduce the size of the pockets and allow the dentist to thoroughly clean away the accumulated tartar.
The most common procedure is called open flap curettage and involves cutting open a small flap in the gum to expose the tooth and root. Damaged tissue is cleaned or removed, and the gum flap is then put back is place.
Can gum disease ever be contagious?
It could be. Researchers have found that the bacteria P. gingivalis can be transmitted from an infected person to another through intimate contact over a long period of time. If you are being treated for gum disease, restrict kisses to quick pecks until your dentist or periodontist give you the all clear.
Natural methods
The herb bloodroot contains a chemical compound called sanguinarine, which has potent antibacterial properties. You can buy natural toothpaste and mouthwash containing this ingredient in health-food stores.
Another way to reduce gingivitis is to paint liquid folic acid along the gum line with a cotton swab twice a day. Or you can use a toothpaste that contains coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that may reduce gum inflammation. Yet another natural method is to massage your gums with powdered vitamin C, then rinse thoroughly with water. You should repeat this treatment once or twice a day for best results.
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