by P.J. Gladnick

Created on: June 08, 2008   Last Updated: March 06, 2012

A relative of mine, who is a dentist, once told me the following joke:

A dentist finished doing an oral exam of a patient and announced, "I have good news and I have bad news for you."

"What's the good news," asked the patient.

"The good news is that your teeth are absolutely perfect without the slightest hint of tooth decay."

"So what can the bad news possibly be," replied the patient warily.

"You have severe gum disease so all your perfect teeth will soon be falling out."

That joke is closer to reality than many realize. The sad fact is that today periodontal disease, which affects approximately 75% of all Americans over the age of 35, is the leading cause of tooth loss. Ironically, even most people who take good care of their teeth have little understanding about the dangers of periodontal disease or how to prevent and treat it.

Basically, periodontitis, which means "inflammation around the tooth," is caused by bacteria that accumulates next to the teeth and and calcifies into tartar. These calcified bacterial plaque deposits form and expand in small periodontal pockets. If left untreated, these pockets expand and cause bone erosion which often leads to tooth loss. Periodontal disease symptoms include red, swollen, or bleeding gums along with persistent bad breath.

Among the people particularly endangered by periodontal disease are diabetics because of their susceptibility to infections. At the same time, periodontal disease makes it more difficult to treat diabetes due to the increase the body's blood sugar it causes.

People with heart problems are also another group threatened by periodontitis. It has been theorized that the bacteria that forms in the gums enters the bloodstream and attaches to fatty plaque in the coronary arteries which more easily enables clot formation. Statistics show that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary disease than those who do not.

Fortunately there are some rather enjoyable natural treatments for the remedy and prevention of periodontal disease. Most of us enjoy drinking orange juice at breakfast. Guess what? That glass of OJ contains plenty of vitamin C which is a natural remedy for preventing gum disease. Years ago sailors learned to carry lots of limes with them on long sea voyages to prevent bleeding gums. This practice first began with British sailors who earned the nickname of "Limeys" for the residents of that island nation.

Another enjoyable treatment for periodontal disease is drinking cranberry juice. This is because cranberry juice prevents bacteria from adhering to the teeth.

Finally, "chill out."   It has been found that stress is a cause of periodontal disease. So head down to the beach and relax in the sun (a good source for vitamin D which can prevent gum disease). Just tell your friends that you're not really goofing off. You are actually treating and preventing periodontal disease.

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