What is gum disease?

At any given time each and every one of us might have 100 to 200 different species of bacteria in our mouth. If you practice the oral hygiene measures that the health industry suggests you will still have 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria on every single one of your teeth. If you do not brush twice a day and floss once a day the number of bacteria can skyrocket to over 100 million bacteria on each tooth. That bacteria are the basis of any and all problems we encounter in our mouth. Gum disease is no different. We’ll take you through the transformation of that bacteria and the ensuing results.

What is Plaque?

When bacteria are left on the tooth it forms a sticky substance called plaque. The bacteria in the plaque will attack the tooth, eroding the hard-surfaced enamel and creating cavities. As the plaque is left on the tooth and not removed it will soon reach the gum and begin to infect the soft tissue forming various forms of gum disease.

The Different Types of Gum Disease

Almost half of the American adults over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease. Again, this is all related to the type of food and drink products consumed and the type of preventive measures exercised to combat the bacteria carrying plaque. The first level of gum disease is called gingivitis. The infected soft tissue will become swollen and you can notice it will take on a deeper color of pink. At this point the gum disease is curable and reversible.

If the infection is allowed to continue to grow in the soft tissue of the gums it now will begin to bleed. The gums will become tender to the touch and start to pull away from the tooth. Your family and friends will notice you will have constant bad breath. This stage is called periodontitis. Those pockets simply advance the infection as they trap more food particles. The plaque on the teeth also becomes harder and now turns into something called tartar. At this point you are going to experience potential damage to both teeth and gums. You could easily suffer from tooth and root loss or you could lose the tooth altogether.

The Prevention of Gum Disease

Gum disease is totally avoidable. As mentioned earlier, if you simply take the time to brush your teeth, and gums, twice a day for two minutes each time you can prevent ever experiencing gum disease. Flossing is beneficial as well to remove the plaque from between the teeth where the toothbrush could not reach. It is also strongly suggested that you also schedule and visit your dentist twice a year for regular examinations. Your dentist can immediately identify if you have any oral hygiene issues like the formation of gum disease. They will also take x-rays to monitor the health of your teeth under the surface of the gums and then send you home after a professional teeth cleaning. Having your teeth cleaned removes any stubborn plaque that you might have missed. Take care of your teeth and your gums.

More on Gum Disease : How to Cure Gum Disease