Gingivitis and Bad Breath
Bad breath is a symptom for gingivitis. Some recent studies on gingivitis revealed that 47% of males and 37% of females aged between 18 and 64 years old have gingivitis.
What people don't really know is that an advanced gingivitis can provoke another important illness, periodontal disease with a high risk of losing teeth.
Periodontal disease is a degeneration of the tissue that fixes the teeth to the upper and lower jaw bones. The gums retract uncovering a great part of the teeth or maybe make ones loose them. The periodontal disease is confounded with gingivitis because the first symptom for both of them is bleeding gums.
A red gum that bloats and bleeds especially when brushing the teeth is the first sign of gingivitis. This illness affects all the structures surrounding the teeth and is determined by bacteria plaque accumulation.
The bacteria eliminate some toxic products that irritate the gums, making them become red, bloating and bleeding when they are touched. The same bacteria also cause bad breath. If the plaque is not removed, the combination of this with saliva calcifies it, making it become hard. It cannot then be removed by brushing and toothpaste.
The next layers of plaque are added to this calcified one, named tartar and the higher number of bacteria worsens the gums inflammation.
Some alarming signs:
- bad taste;
- bad breath;
- red gums;
- sensitive gums;
- bleeding gums;
- teeth loss;
- sensitive teeth;
- manducation ache;
- pus bags around the teeth and gums;
- tartar (yellow-brown depositions).
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal problems. It is characterized by bleeding gums, softness, red and swelling gums.
The second stage is when the jaw bone and the corresponding ligaments are affected. This happens because the gum retracts away from the teeth.
The more advanced stage is a serious damage of the jaw bones. The retracted gum forms a bad smelling pus bag and the consequences are very serious: massive damage to the jaw bone, or even losing your teeth.
Dentists recommend efficient brushing with good action toothpaste and regular medical exams, at least twice a year. These help prevent bacteria plaque that leads to periodontal problems.
By not taking the dentist's advice, gingivitis problems and the inflammation extends deeper and eventually causes damage to the tooth root and the tissue that anchors the teeth. A deep bag or cavity is now formed between the tooth and gum where many other bacteria can settle thus compounding the problem.
In this case it is much impossible to remove the plaque and the illness gets worse. The teeth may become mobile and the next action can be extraction.
Usually periodontal disease affects people between 25 and 75 years old and this is the main cause for aches and pains and later teeth loss. This problem raises the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, premature births etc. Another negative factor that influences this disease is smoking.
A dentist can help you by scheduling a program for recommended treatment, but for a longer effect, the patients own responsibility lies in good dental care.
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