by Aliyeus J

Created on: February 14, 2011

Oral hygiene should be presented as an important daily regimen for each individual. Specific guidelines need to be adhered to, and the importance of strict oral practices, directly geared at having optimal health should be realized. Brushing of the teeth needs to be maintained at the level of at least twice a day, while flossing should be done once per day. Brushing after each meal is preferable, but if it is not possible to do so, rinsing food particles and bacteria from the mouth and teeth throughout the day is advisable. When dental care is not practiced,  plaque and tartar can be left to accumulate, usually at the base of the teeth. If the problem is left unaddressed, inflammation and infection may occur in the gums. This condition is called gingivitis, and without treatment, may further develop into periodontitis.

At the point of periodontitis, inflammation of the gums will have caused pockets to form between gum lines and teeth. Plaque and tartar have by now found their way into these pockets, and with soft-tissue swelling present, the bacterial carrying agents of plaque and tartar are trapped inside. Continued inflammation will  cause tissues and bone around the teeth to destruct, and therefore lead to loosening of the teeth or tooth loss altogether. Gums may also recede, and there may be a separation of teeth. This is often the reason for sizeable gaps in one’s dental structure, where there was previously none before.

Occasionally, what may appear to be periodontitis will actually prove to be a condition known as scurvy. This disease may occur due to a severe deficiency of Vitamin C. Symptoms of scurvy are common to those of periodontitis, presenting bleeding and spongy gums, as well as tooth loss.

There also exists an uncommon strain of periodontitis know as Juvenile periodontitis. The condition is highly destructive and believed to be solely genetic. This condition results from a different source than that of the commonly known periodontitis and gingivitis diseases which directly result from the practice of poor oral hygiene.

Periodontitis usually presents without pain, but should be looked for in the symptoms of bleeding, tender or swollen gums. Receding gum lines, separating teeth, and persistent bad breath are also signs to be looked for, as well as puss between the teeth and gums. A change in the way teeth fit together when pressed into a bite, or a change in the fit of partial dentures can also signal the gum disease.

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