CONDITIONS

• Gum Disease
• Swollen Gums
• Bad Breath
• Receding Gums
• Periodontal Disease
• Canker Sore
• Gingivitis
• Bleeding Gums
• Dry Mouth
• Periodontitis
• Tonsil Stones
• Oral Thrush
• Braces Pain
• Cheek Bites
• Denture Pain
• Gum Boils
• Gum Infection
• Gum Sores
• Loose Teeth
• Mouth Sores
• Pyorrhea
• Red Gums
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Sore Gums
• Tooth Abscess
• Toothache
• Trench Mouth

GUM DISEASE

Gum Disease:

What it is - What causes it - What to do about it

What is Gum Disease?

Gingivitis is medically classified as an inflammation of the gums, but it can lead to more serious gum conditions and should be treated promptly and effectively at the first sign in order to prevent any further complications. That's because gingivitis is an entry level form of periodontal disease, which attacks the gum tissue and eventually works its way to the jaw bone and causes permanent damage including loss of teeth.

CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE...

SIGNS

Signs of gum disease

Gingivitis is relatively easy to diagnose on your own, as the warning signs are very visibly evident. If you suffer from gingivitis, some of the warning signs are:

• Bleeding gums
• Bright red or purple appearance to gums
• Gums that are tender when touched
• Mouth sores
• Swollen gums
• Shiny appearance to gums

If you suspect that you have gingivitis, the first thing you should do is examine your current oral hygiene regiment, and see if it is up to par for treating gingivitis. Typically, gingivitis is caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth that goes untreated. The good thing about bacteria buildup in the mouth is that it's easy to treat - if you have the right plan in place.

PROGRESSION

Progression of gum disease

Dangers of gum disease

If action is not taken during the early stages of gum disease, it can lead to a number of other, much more serious conditions such as:

All of the above mentioned conditions are quite serious in their own right, but they can easily be prevented if the first warning signs are noticed early enough. Not only to be considered are the time lost, and pain endured by these severe conditions, but the cost. Advanced dental procedures that are needed to correct severe cases can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to have performed.

CAUSES

What causes gum disease?

We previously discussed how gum disease is primarily caused by the buildup of harmful oral bacteria. However, it is not bacteria alone that cause this. The real culprit lies in oral hygiene, or rather, the lack thereof. No matter what you do, there will always be bacteria in the mouth. Quite literally thousands of types are constantly being produced. The problem is not these bacteria themselves, but that lack of proper oral hygiene will allow these bacteria to bond with food particles and sugars in the mouth and form the whitish, sticky substance known as plaque.

Plaque will eventually calcify (harden) and become tartar, which can only then be removed by your dentist. As plaque forms and hardens, the bacteria contained within produce waste that is toxic to your mouth. This is what leads to various oral infections.

COSTS

Cost of gum disease

CURRENT PRODUCTS

Problems with current products

If you're following an oral care plan like we outlined above and still suffering from symptoms of gum disease, the problem may be lurking in your very own medicine cabinet. A number of commercially available products for dental care today can create a vicious circle when it comes to treating gum disease. Many of the products on the store shelves may initially do just what they say, but leave you in a position where you can see no improvement whatsoever, or even worse, a decline in oral health. This may seem quite staggering, but consider all the prescription medications out there today that help one condition while also presenting a number of other side effects.

Toothpaste

Most toothpastes that are found in stores contain a number of chemical agents that while good in theory, are terrible in execution. Take sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for example. SLS is a detergent that is used in toothpaste to make it foam. When this happens, you think that it's foaming up to reach all the areas in and around your mouth to clean them. While this may be true, SLS is a clinical skin irritant that has been proven to weaken the tissues of the mouth, and in many cases, even cause canker sores and mouth ulcers. Additionally, in being a detergent it also has a drying effect in the mouth. Because of this, there is less saliva- and when saliva is absent, so is your mouths natural bacteria fighter and cleanser.

The majorities of toothpastes on the market today also contain fluoride; even tout it as a major accomplishment in preventative dental care. While most of us have grown up hearing and believing this, it is simply not true. Did you know that fluoride is the active ingredient in numerous poisons and insecticides? That it is a byproduct of fertilizer and heavy metal manufacturing? That it was an integral part in developing nuclear weapons? While those facts carry a massive amount of weight on their own, it doesn't mean much regarding oral health directly. Well, how about the fact that fluoride destroys cells in tendons and ligaments- specifically the ones that attach the gums to the teeth? Since this is a major issue regarding gum disease, it should be carefully considered if you already have pockets in the gums caused by bacteria and plaque. If this is the case, using a toothpaste with fluoride could actually prevent the pockets from ever healing.

Mouthwash

Most mouthwash uses alcohol as its active ingredient to kill germs. You can't quite fault the manufacturers for this claim, because alcohol will definitely kill germs. In fact, it kills everything; even your mouths ability to produce saliva. Alcohol has a drying effect in any capacity that it is used in. What this means as far as mouthwash goes is that while it may kill bacteria, it also dries the mouth- and as we've previously mentioned, these bacteria thrive in an environment without oxygen and without saliva. Essentially, most mouthwashes will instantly cause bacteria population to skyrocket.

PREVENTION

How to Prevent and Treat Gum Disease

The number one way to prevent gum disease is to control the bad bacteria in your mouth. And the best way to do this is to practice a good oral hygiene program. When you combine the 4 Steps below with a 100% pure oral care product, you'll be empowering your mouth to defend itself and possibly even repair the damage that's been done:

The 4 Step Oral Hygiene Program

	Brush twice a day in the morning and evening using 2-5 drops of a botanical toothpaste on a toothbrush and brush normally.
	Floss every evening before brushing - more frequently as needed. Get any food particles out from between teeth.
	Use a botanical mouthwash twice a day: morning and evening. Just put 2-5 drops into an ounce of water, swish and gargle. This is important to kill the bacteria in the entire mouth including the back of the tongue.
	Mid-morning, mid-afternoon and as needed: put 2-5 drops of natural botanicals on the tip of the tongue to coat the gum line and teeth to kill bacteria and keep breath fresh.

For a 100% pure and natural botanical product with ingredients that kill harmful oral bacteria, click here.

Another important step you should take in preventing and treating the bacterial problem in your mouth is to limit the amount of sugar and processed food in your diet. A majority of the commonly available foods these days contain a plethora of sugars, preservatives, and various other artificial ingredients. These are the ideal diet not for you, but for the bacteria present in your mouth. Without the power to delegate what ingredients go into your food, it's best to do what you can in this scenario and focus more on preventative care. The mouth is the gateway to the body, and the best method to keeping it clean and healthy is to practice the 4 Steps above, and limit the intake of sugars and processed foods.

WHAT TO DO

What to do about it

As we've discussed, the most important thing to do to correct dry mouth before it is too far gone is to implement a solid oral hygiene program. If you're already doing that and still suffering, it may very well be due to the chemical laden products you're using. Combining good oral hygiene with a natural oral product that will eliminate the bacteria which cause the problems may be the answer to a number of these problems.

Did it ever occur to you that the least expensive and painful option might be found in nature?