| The
Gums
The
teeth remain embedded in jawbone which is covered from outside
by gums. Healthy gums are coral pink in colour. They remain
firmly attached to the underlying bone. Healthy gum can be
identified by thin margins firmly adapting over the respective
tooth and it does not bleed easily.
Gum
Diseases
Gum
problems can be divided into two stages:
Gingivitis
As
mentioned earlier, normal gums are coral pink in colour with
the edges firmly attached around the tooth, and does not bleed
on normal brushing. The earliest sign of gum inflammation
is bleeding from the margins of gums during brushing, without
any pain. The margins of gums appear red. If proper brushing
is not done, the disease may progress deep inside the gums.
They may swell, become soft and bleed even on slightest touch,
The bleeding may even occur spontaneously. Even at this late
stage, the condition maybe painless. This condition is known
is Gingivitis.
Periodontitis
If
not treated, the disease may progress to involve the surrounding
bone, leading to pocket formation around the tooth. Now the
disease is called periodontitis or pyorrhea.
At this stage, the patient may complain of bleeding, itching
sensation and dull constant ache in gums, increased hot and
cold sensitivity, food impaction, and even loose teeth. There
may be bad odour from the mouth, migration of teeth and exposed
root surfaces. Some people may have the urge to dig deep in
between the teeth to get relief from the dull ache. All these
symptoms suggest that quick attention and professional help
is required. If the disease is not treated, ultimately it
may result in loss of teeth one after the other. Periodontal
disease is the most important cause of tooth loss in our country. |
