Causes of Gums and Periodontal Diseases

The gum diseases are also caused by plaque accumulation. The bacteria present in plaque form toxic substances that may cause inflammation of gums. If plaque is not removed regularly, it may harden to form calculus (tartar). This tartar withits rough surface, attracts further deposition of plaque and bacteria, sustaining the inflammation and destruction of supporting bone.

What does your dentist do when you have Tartar ?

The dentist cleans the hard deposits on your tooth with the help of special instruments. This procedure is called as scaling of tooth.

What will happen if Gum Diseases are not treated in time ?

If the gum diseases are not treated in time, the infection from the gums can spread to involve the underlying bone and may cause loosening or migration of the tooth. The involved tooth/teeth may eventually be lost. Sometimes the infection may cause pus formation that can involve adjoining tissues and may cause swelling, pus discharge, bone infection etc. Chronic gum diseases where pus oozes out of the gum margins (pyorrhea) can affect the general health of a person. Recent scientific studies have shown that the gum infections are associated with heart and lung diseases. In pregnant women, it can lead to low birth weight babies and pre-term labour. Therefore, it is very important that gum diseases are prevented and treated early.

Prevention of Gum Diseases

• Mechanical Method
  This method is most important in plaque control. The mechanical method means use of toothpaste and brush or any other indigenous method such as datun etc. Proper cleaning of teeth is very important by any form i.e. it may be toothpaste and brush or datun etc.
  
  Teeth should be cleaned in such a way that upper teeth are cleaned in downward motion and lower teeth in upward motion, both from outside and inside. On chewing surfaces, circular motion of brushing helps to clean the pits and fissures. The key is to take care to clean all the surfaces of all the teeth in both the jaws.
  
  The other aids of mechanical cleaning of teeth include dental floss, inter-dental brushes, rubber tips and tooth piks, water pik etc. They help to clean those areas in between the teeth that are normally not accessible during normal tooth brushing. They are specially indicated for crowding and abnormal spacing between the teeth.

• Chemical Method
  There are certain chemicals such as chlorhexidine and fluoride that help in reducing bacterial population of plaque. They are available as mouth rinses. They should be only used on advice of the doctor for limited periods.