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

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Periodontal Disease:

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

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease (also called periodontitis or gum disease) is a bacterial infection that destroys the supporting structures that hold your teeth in place. Your gums are the first line of defense against bacterial infection, but once the infection has broken through them it will begin to attack the ligaments and bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. It is in this stage of periodontitis that loss of bone due to bacterial erosion can occur, which will then cause the pocket (space between the gum and tooth) to grow deeper and wider. Left untreated, this disease can lead to costly and painful procedures such as gum grafts, bone grafts, and ultimately tooth loss.

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SIGNS

Signs of periodontal disease

Periodontitis is often a silent disease as those who suffer from it rarely experience pain, and may not even be aware that there is a problem. The early stages of gum disease are seldom painful, and carry with them very few warning signs. Some of the early warnings to look for are slight bleeding while brushing, softening of the gums, and discoloration of the gums (darker red/irritated in appearance rather than a light, healthy pink). As the disease progresses, more noticeable signs may become more predominant. Some examples of these more serious indicators are:

• Swollen gums	• Sores in the mouth
• Inflamed gums	• Bright red or purple gums
• Receding gums that make your teeth look longer	• Trench mouth (thrush)
• Spaces developing between teeth	• Loose teeth
• Persistent bad taste	• Pus between the teeth and gum line (pyorrhea)
• Chronic bad breath (halitosis)	• Change in the way teeth fit together when you bite
• Tender gums when touched

If you have any of the above signs, you could be significantly farther down the path of serious periodontitis than you think, and close to the potential of loss of your teeth.

PROGRESSION

Progression of periodontal disease

DANGERS

Dangers of periodontal disease

It is estimated that 85% of the population has some form of gum disease. It has been a long held belief that periodontal disease was just a dental disease, affecting only the teeth and gums. While it's true that periodontal disease may originate in the mouth, it is now known that periodontitis is a very serious disease, affecting the entire body and increasing risk of numerous other adverse health effects including:

• Increased risk of heart attack by as much as 25%	• Pancreatic cancer
• Increased risk of stroke by a factor of 10	• Premature births
• Problems controlling both type I and type II diabetes	• Underweight newborns
• Respiratory disease	• Digestive disorders

Another recent study showed that the medical cost of those with periodontal disease was 21% higher than those without it. Periodontitis is not something to be taken lightly. If you have it, you need to do all you can to get rid of it.

MAIN CAUSE

The Main Cause of Periodontal Disease - Bad Bacteria

The overgrowth of bad bacteria is the main cause of periodontal disease. One drop of human saliva can easily contain 50 to 100 million bacteria, and a diseased mouth can contain bacteria into the billions. As bacteria grow, they accumulate (both dead and alive) and form a sticky, nearly invisible layer called plaque. As plaque grows, it appears as a whitish-gray color. Usually, the formation of this plaque is along the teeth and gum line. If this plaque continues to grow unchecked, it becomes calcified and turns into tartar (also known as calculus). Calculus builds a wedge between the tooth and gum line, and can cause openings called pockets. Pockets are measured by how deep they are from the gum line. Stage 1 periodontitis (called gingivitis) is 2-3mm deep, stage 2 periodontitis is 4-5mm, and stage 3 periodontitis is 6mm and deeper.

As the gum tissue comes into contact with the spreading plaque and calculus, the infection intensifies. Swelling and redness/irritation begin, the gums become weakened, and bleeding can occur. Once bleeding has started, the bacteria get an additional source of food and can begin to multiply at an alarming rate.

As bacteria continue to multiply, they eat. As with everything else that eats, there is waste. The waste that is produced by bacteria is highly acidic. So much so in fact that it can eat right through tooth enamel to the dentin and cause cavities. These bacteria like to hide between the teeth, on the back of the tongue, and especially in the pockets under the gum line where normal brushing will not disturb it. The acidic waste produced by these bacteria will eat away at the ligaments and bone of the tooth and gum tissue. Eventually, this will cause the tooth to become weaker and possibly even loose. This waste can also eat away at gum tissue and cause them to recede, or pull away from your teeth. If not treated, tooth loss is inevitable, and at that point you are exposed to a whole host of other diseases that are now linked to periodontitis.

Besides the overgrowth of bad bacteria, the following factors may also affect the health of your gums:

• Smoking/tobacco use	• Medications
• Genetics	• Clenching or grinding your teeth
• Pregnancy/puberty	• Diabetes
• Hormonal changes in women	• Poor nutrition
• Stress

PREVENTION

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease - Overcome Bad Bacteria - in 4 Daily Steps

The best chance you have in preventing the onset or progression of periodontal disease is to follow a daily oral hygiene program, with a 100% pure bacteria-fighting oral product.

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.

TREATMENT

How to Treat Periodontal Disease

The best treatment of Periodontal Disease is following the 4 steps listed above, using pure oral care products.  Follow these additional steps to further treat periodontitis:

• Avoid tobacco use.
• Visit your dentist every 6 months for a professional teeth cleaning.
• Your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning (root planning and scaling). This is a painful dental procedure that scrapes the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planning gets rid of the rough spots on the tooth root where the bacteria gather.
• Use a strong bacteria fighter that can get into the pockets and kill the bacteria

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