Gum Disease versus Gingivitis

healthnet — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:32:13 +0000

Gum disease is a general term used to describe a disorder involving the gums (soft tissue surrounding the teeth) or the periodontal tissue that support teeth.
About 80 % of adults are affected by a form of gum disease.
What is gingivitis ?
Some authors use also the term gingivitis as a general term to describe any form of disorder
affecting the gums and the teeth support.
Other authors use the term gingivitis to describe the early stage of any form of gum
disease. According to them, gingivitis is characterized by a moderate inflammation of the gums. The
illness affects only the soft tissue (gingiva) and not the periodontal structure that keeps teeth in place. The gums are red, swollen and can bleed easily.

Other medical terms used to describe a gum disorder are : periodontal gum disease (periodontitis), pyorrhea (pyorrhea alveolaris), etc.

Periodontitis is an advanced stage of gum disease, when the gum starts to pull away from the
teeth and the structure supporting the teeth is affected. The gums are receding and the bone
that supports the teeth is involved in an erodation process.

Receding gums is a popular term that describe a symptom of periodontitis rather than a gum
disorder.

Receding gums or gum recession occur when the soft tissue (gingiva) shrinks back
exposing the sensitive part of the teeth (dentin) and finally the roots. The teeth become oversensitive to cold, hot or sweet foods.
Periodontitis may be accompanied by an infection of the teeth surrounding area (soft tissue and periodontal tissue). The infection produces pus or periodontal pockets formation.

This form of periodontitis is known as pyorrhea or pyorrhea alveolaris.

The most common signs announcing a gum disease are: gum recession affecting one or more teeth), persistent gum bleeding, inflammation or infection.
Gums may sometimes bleed due to a harsh brushing or flossing.
Moderate inflammation can also occur, affecting one or more teeth. But if the inflammation lasts despite proper oral care, you have enough reasons to be concerned.
Tooth abscess can cause gum infection around the affected tooth.
But once the the tooth in question is treated, the infection of the gum should gradually disappear.

No matter which of these symptoms are present, if they do not go away in a few days, a treatment is necessary. Earlier you start it, better the chances of healing are.
The first thing to do is developing good oral care habits. When brushing and flossing you should try to remove all the food debris that accumulate between the teeth and on the gums.
You should also use a tongue scrapper for removing the food particles accumulated on the tongue.

The foods debris, if not removed, stimulate bacteria overgrow. The bacteria produce toxins that irritate the gums. The same bacteria cause bad breath.

Gum Disease Can Causes Serious Health Problems

healthnet — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:48:47 +0000

Different studies suggest that oral health can have a major impact on overall health. New researches indicate a connection between gum disease and heart disease .

The bacteria and the toxins these bacteria produce inside the mouth can enter into the blood stream. Once absorbed into the blood vessels they may contribute to clot formation and cause inflammation of the arteries. Read more…Other studies found gum disease linked to pancreatic cancer. Read more…