It is fairly well known that one of the common signs a person may have gum or periodontal disease is gum bleeding on brushing. This bleeding comes from red inflamed marginal gingival. Gingiva is the technical word for gums and marginal gingiva refers to that portion of the gum that rests directly against the teeth.

Red inflamed gingival is often associated with the presence of dental plaque and tartar. Dental plaque is a complex sugar molecule made by bacteria normally present in most people’s mouth. Plaque is soft “fuzzy” film that builds up around teeth daily. Only thorough tooth brushing and dental flossing each day can prevent this film from sticking to your teeth. Because new plaque builds up each day, you could never go to the dentist frequently enough to prevent plaque from collecting around teeth.

Plaque is often confused with tartar. The technical word for tartar is calculus and this word is frequently used instead of the word tartar. Tartar or calculus is hard crystallized mineral deposit that forms between and over time around the teeth. Calculus requires the presence of the soft plaque on the teeth to form these mineralizes crystals.  Most saliva is rich in minerals that are invisible when dissolved in saliva. But, when the mineral rich saliva encounters plaque on the teeth, it crystallizes and forms the visible product, calculus. Until pigmented food, drink or tobacco products are consumed, most calculus blends in with the color of the teeth making it less noticeable until a significant quantity has built up around the teeth. The mineral rich saliva flows into the mouth from ducts located under the forward part of the tongue adjacent the back of the lower front teeth and from the cheeks opposite the upper molars.
Typically, then, it is the lower front teeth and the upper molars that first build calculus, though calculus can build on all teeth. Calculus is never present when the teeth are kept completely free of plaque DAILLY.

We all know that the human mouth is full of germs or bacteria. It is only when the bacteria s.mutans is present in the mouth that dental plaque can be produced. The s.mutans bacteria takes sugar molecules from the mouth and saliva and makes longer sugar molecules called polysaccharides. The long sugar molecule made by the linking of many small sugar molecules is dental plaque. So a diet rich in small sugar molecules, such as sucrose, the sugar associated with most candies and baked sweets is an ideal stimulus for the s.mutans bacteria to form the polysaccharide we know as dental plaque.

Dental plaque is some what sticky and once it sticks to the teeth, it forms a mesh or a bed, if you will, that acid producing bacteria can live in. Over time these acids cause the densely hard outer enamel of the teeth to break down or decalcify. This is how a “decay” or “cavities” are formed.

Plaque also allows calculus formation against to teeth. When calculus attaches to the teeth the gums (marginal gingival) cannot lie in the normal close relationship with the tooth. The calculus is responsible for disrupting the seal of the gum against the teeth, and makes it possible for disease causing bacteria to invade up the roots of the teeth. This is how gum disease starts and progresses. The invading bacteria produce enzymes call proteolytic enzymes that further deteriorate the ligament between the roots of the teeth as well as the bone attached to the (periodontal) ligament. As this bone is what retains the tooth in the mouth, its loss ultimately means the loss of the tooth or teeth experiencing this process if left unchecked.

Lexington Arlington Cosmetic Dentist- Dental Veneers, Crowns, Implants, Sedation Smiles by Design – David Brother, DMD,FAGD, specializing in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and reconstructive dentistry

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The majority of people can do something about gum disease if they really wish to. It is indeed easier to prevent periodontal disease. However, many folks, perhaps as many as seventy-five percent currently have a problem that needs to be solved.

If you have mild to moderate gum disease, you can save yourself money and pain. But you need to take action right away. If you have mild gingivitis, you are in a better place.

Many of our physical problems may arise from our lack of good nutrition. Excessive sugar intake may not only contribute to the accumulation of plaque and tartar but they may also offset the ability of your body to maintain the proper calcium and phosphorous balance to keep your teeth healthy and free of cavities. This modern way of eating and processing foods may be causing us harm that previous populations did not have to contend with.

On the surface level, plaque must be disrupted daily in order to prevent the formation of tartar. Failure to follow this commonly accepted practice will result in the accumulation of harmful bacteria – harmful to your dental health. They have studied groups in the past, who lived more naturally, that did well even without the modern toothbrush. Their much more natural diet was better for the body.

If you are one of those eating the modern diet, and if you are reading this then you are, you need to put some effort in to prevent tartar accumulation. As with anything else in life, there are voices who disagree, but for most us, this is the reality.

After you learn to keep plaque under control you might find your gums becoming pink and healthy again. Gum tissue that has been lost is difficult to replenish. Surgery and gum grafts are not going to yield results that are equivalent to preventing tissue loss in the first place.

Another problem that people face is bad breath, Therabreath may help with that. Bad breath is something that can cause problems for both our public and private lives.  You can do something about that as well.  Persistance is the key to success.

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Does this sound familiar to you? My dentist and hygienist mentioned that I had irritated gums as they cleaned my teeth. This is a symptom of gingivitis. Gingivitis can be a stepping stone to major problems in the mouth and gum line. It can lead to periodontal disease, which is a much more serious problem with the potential for actual bone loss.

Halitosis (bad breath) could be related to a gingivitis infection as both are caused by bacteria. Red, swollen and/or bleeding gums characterize gingivitis. These symptoms are most evident upon flossing and sometimes from brushing.

Bacteria cause gingivitis. And bacteria are considered to be responsible for bad breath.

Sometimes, I could even see the bloodstains that the hygienist quietly wiped away with a towel. It was embarrassing enough to know that I wasn’t controlling my gingivitis problem, but to know that she was actually trying not to make a big deal out of it was troubling.

I knew my dentist was concerned because she gave me a bottle of alcohol based mouthwash to try and mentioned that she wanted to see how I looked next time. I don’t like using it; there is too much alcohol and the taste is not very pleasant. Alcohol may also dry the mucous membranes in the mouth.

The Problem

Bacteria can stick to your teeth and secrete acid onto them contributing to cavity formation. They can also infect the gums, particularly around the gum line, causing gingivitis. This can manifest initially as bleeding and irritated gums.

Having a lot of uncontrolled bacteria multiplying in the mouth may also lead to bad breath, but there is a natural and normal amount of bacteria in the mouth, and you will never completely get rid of them all, nor would you want to.

Theory has it that it is actually the anaerobic bacteria that live in the tongue and throat that produce sulfur that in turn produce hard to get rid of bad breath. These anaerobes create VSCs or volatile sulfur compounds. One type is the familiar rotten egg smell. There are other odors coming from VSCs as well. These sulfur-producing bacteria may feed on certain foods, like coffee, alcohol and meats.

A gingivitis problem can offer a way for bacteria to easily enter your blood stream and that can lead to additional problems. Systemic infections could come from this. Gingivitis can be something that makes your gums bleed easily in a mild case or it can be the root of deep gum recession, leading to bone loss in the worse case scenarios. (Periodontal disease)

Loss of gum line can be discouraging. A friend of mind once described the process as, “getting long in the tooth”. Sometimes, people experience this problem by brushing too hard. TIP: Using a soft bristled toothbrush with the type of motion that your hygienist recommends may help prevent eroded gum lines.

Treatment and Prevention

Had you ever heard of under-the-gum cleanings? This could be part of the protocol your dentist might invoke, should you develop periodontal disease. If you know people that have had an under-the-gum cleaning; they may tell you that it is not very pleasant.

Your dentist can deal with this problem in a variety of ways. However, prevention probably is the best option. Include good flossing and brushing habits – see your dentist for details. And you could add a non-alcohol based mouthwash alternative to your regimen.

I’m currently using a special toothbrush that uses vibration to clean the teeth. This device does a better job than a regular toothbrush in keeping my teeth clean. It does take a little while to get used to because of the vibration. It makes many, many vibrations per second. This helps to give it such wonderful cleaning abilities.

Don’t feel sad if you have excellent oral health habits but you still have bad breath. This is common and many people experience this same situation. Oral health products that don’t contain sodium lauryl sulfates or artificial flavors that can still kill the bacteria that cause bad breath without using harsh alcohol or tough chemicals may be helpful.

I am not a dentist. This article is for information purposes only. This article is not meant for diagnosis, treatment or prevention nor is it meant to give advice. If you have or suspect you have gingivitis, periodontal disease or any other dental problems, visit your dentist for a consultation.

David Snape is the author of: What You Should Know about Gum Disease ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9814855-0-8.
You can ask Dave questions at http://tobeinformed.com on this or any other topic.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you have an oral health problem, visit a periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated any statements about products in this article.

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Receding gums, also known as gingival recession is a very common problem targeting especially middle aged males and females. It is easily defined as the loss of tissue (mucosal) over the jaw bone, ultimately leading to profound root exposure.

What causes the gum recession?- Over aggressive tooth brushing is one cause of receding gums because of the gum line and enamel corrosion caused by the harsh motions and pressure of the brush bristles.

Bad oral hygiene leads to serious bacterial accumulation which also leads to the break-down of bone and teeth enamel. For the gums, gum disease or periodontal disease is the problem to avoid.

Symptoms- The symptoms vary from discomfort, pain, inflammation and irritation in the gum area to profound root exposure, sensitivity and gum line caries.

Treatment options- Start your treatment routine by prevention. Modern dentistry currently has no known cures for gingival recession except gum grafts which may not suit everyone. Cut your chance of developing the problem by at least half by merely practicing good, daily oral hygiene – with gentle brushing

Natural Treatment Options- Natural treatment options are available in your garden or kitchen to treat the symptoms associated with the problem effectively while also being very affordable. For gum disease you could try essential oils such as ora-md which contains the natural oils of almond, peppermint and spearmint.

Sage herb has incredible astringent properties to tighten the gum areas gently while also relieving discomfort and perhaps pain generally associated with the recession. Add a couple of sage leaves to boiling water, strain and rinse the affected areas of the mouth twice daily.

Tea tree oil has both anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties thus not only treating but also preventing the problem by preventing bacteria build-up. Add a couple of drops oil to warm water, flushing the relevant areas no more than twice daily.

Medical advice- It is essential to seek medical advice from a general practitioner or dentist should the pain, discomfort or any of the mentioned symptoms worsen. Your physician should give the OK or preferably recommend any treatment for the problem.

Product statements in this article have not been evaluated by the USFDA.

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What is ozone therapy? What about ozone therapy for periodontal disease, is it an effective treatment method?

Of course, to form an answer for the latter question, you have to know the answer to the former one. We are going to cover both in this article. Whether or not you have periodontal disease right now, the information provided can help you prepare for that eventuality. Ozone generators have been used since the mid 1800’s.

Ozone is considered to be a purifier. It occurs with oxygen – O2 – combines with an O1 which creates O3. O3 is actually ozone. Yes, yes, it sounds like a lot of chemistry based medical lingo – and it is. However, its application is not quite so complicated. The main thing to remember is that ozone is able to oxidize any and all pollution with which it comes in contact.

To create ozone in a medical environment, medical grade O2 has to be exposed to simulated lightning. Typically, this occurs with the help of an ozone generator which releases a field of electric discharge.

Through various chemical reactions and such, when ozone is released into the body, it will quickly disappear. As it does so, it reverts back into oxygen. At that point, it will then increase the oxygen in your body, which turns it into an extremely powerful oxidant. That oxidant can jump start your body’s antioxidant system.

Ozone can also be created at home with a home ozonator.

One of the things it can do through this process is kill bacteria – which is, of course, the primary cause behind periodontal disease. It can also boost your immune system, which also helps in fighting off the bacteria which causes all forms of gum disease.

It is believed that ozone therapy can be helpful with a number of other serious health problems as well, for much the same reason it is helpful in treating periodontal disease. Its effects are largely debated but there is a lot of evidence point to the fact that it can and will kill the various bacteria which leads to tooth and gum disease.

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or Periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products in this article.

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