Remote Health Care

Periodontitis is a gum disease affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth.  It involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth.  If left untreated, it can lead to the loosening and successive loss of teeth.  Periodontitis is a severe periodontal disease caused by bacteria that stick to and thrive on the tooth’s surfaces, and the body’s natural response against these bacteria.

Other factors that may cause periodontal disease include the following:

1.     Smoking – Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.  Not only that, it can also lower the chances for successful treatment.

2.    Diabetes – People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing infections and that includes periodontal disease.

3.    Medications – Some prescriptions and medications can reduce the flow of saliva.  Saliva has a protective effect on the mouth.  Without enough saliva, the mouth becomes vulnerable to dental and oral infections.  Likewise, some medications can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue making it difficult to keep gums clean.

4.    Hormonal changes in women – Age-related changes in women can make gums more sensitive and more susceptible to gum diseases.

5.    Other illnesses – Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their treatments can also negatively affect the dental health.

6.    Genetic make-up – Some people, by nature, are just more susceptible to severe gum disease than others.

A periodontitis is established after the dentist has inspected the soft gum tissues around the teeth with a probe which is done by inserting a small instrument between the tooth and gum to measure the depth of the pocket.  An evaluation of the patient’s x-ray films will follow to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth.

The severity of periodontitis is classified according to the amount of periodontal ligament fibers that have been lost.  It is considered mild if it has a 1-2 mm of attachment loss; moderate if it is with 3-4 mm of attachment loss and severe if it has more than 5 mm of attachment loss.

Periodontitis is manifested by painful, red, swollen gums and prominent amount of plaque.  During its early stage, it manifests very few symptoms that many individuals fail to seek periodontal disease treatment before it has progressed significantly.  The following are symptoms of periodontal disease:

1.     Recurrent gum swelling and spitting out blood after brushing teeth

2.    Redness or bleeding of gums while brushing, flossing or when biting into hard food

3.    Bad breath or halitosis

4.    Persistent metallic taste in the mouth

5.    Gingival recession resulting lengthening appearance of teeth

6.    Existence of deep pockets between the teeth and the gums

7.    Loose teeth (this occurs in the later stages)

Most patients assume that painless bleeding after brushing or flossing is insignificant.  What they fail to realize is that gingival inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless but they are already symptoms of progressing periodontitis.

Known in the medical field as tonsillolith, a tonsil stone is a collection of bacteria, mucus, and particles of foods left in the mouth which tends to calcify in time. Later, they will form into whitish or yellowish-colored patches that collect in the crevices of the tonsils in the oral cavity. Typically, the presence of stone is not easily noticed because it is covered with the tonsils. However, as it grows in size, they start to become visible as they may protrude and may grow in size as large as a pea.

The tonsil stones are not readily detected since the only symptom identified with them is that something that gets stuck on your throat. They seem to produce an unpleasant odor causing bad breath or halitosis. This can be a source of embarrassment especially when you start to open your mouth to talk. You will notice that people start to turn away from you and this will surely affect your social life as well as your daily living.

Although the tonsil stones are not known to cause harm, they provide discomfort and can be a cause of annoyance. There is difficulty in swallowing, and they are responsible for the metallic taste in the mouth. What most people don’t know is that good oral hygiene can do wonders to prevent its formation. The teeth must be brushed and flossed regularly; and the mouth must be rinsed properly after eating. In addition, antiseptic gargling solutions must be used before going to bed. In their absence, salt water can be a good substitute.

When the stones have just started to form, try dissolving them by regular gargling with the use of vinegar-water mixture. When the tonsil stones are still small in size and not formed deeply in the soft tissues of the mouth, these can be easily removed with the use of Q-tips or cotton swabs. The tissues around the stones can be pressed with your fingers or a Q-tip and the stones will then be unseated and forced out. Make sure that everything is clean in order not to infect the tissues. Also, avoid using sharp objects like toothpick which could damage the tissues and result in an injury.

For stones that grow superficially, a medicine dropper can be used to suck out the debris. This is done after splashing the mouth with salt water. In order to avoid issues with tonsil stones, pay attention to signs and symptoms of their growth in your mouth and treat them in time. This will help you avoid or even stop these reasons of your embarrassment and allow you to happily enjoy your social life.

Suffering from periodontal disease?  Why not try taking the natural route in healing gum infection?  As you know, a holistic approach to treating periodontal disease is a more affordable yet safe and effective way of treating gum infection, especially gingivitis.  However, it is still important that you need to consult first with your dentist to know the severity of your gum disease as it require intrusive treatment to rehabilitate damaged bone and gum tissues.  Otherwise, you can resort to a more natural and effective way of kicking periodontal disease causing bacteria to the curb.  And you can save yourself on the expensive dental consultation fee as well.

The first periodontitis treatment you might want to consider is cranberry juice.  Cranberry juice is known to prevent bacteria from sticking on teeth, thus preventing plaque and tartar from building up and promote bacterial growth.          The recommended amount of cranberry juice is 4 ounces a day an dit must be unsweetened.  However, cranberry juice also has a blood thinning quality and must not be taken in conjunction with wafarin.  It could also cause an upset stomach when taken in excess.  So before you do drink or eat any cranberry product, consult with your dentist and doctor first.

Another well-known periodontitis treatment is lemon juice.  Lemon juice has powerful antiseptic qualities which can fight off bacterial infection.  Apart from that, it is also rich in Vitamin C which helps boost immune system to aid in healing and battle sickness and infection.  You can drink warm lemon juice to to help ease the discomfort brought by the infected gums, or you can mix it with salt and apply it directly to the infected areas of your gums.  Another way to use lemon juice is to mix it with four strawberries (another rich source of vitamin C) and use it as a toothpaste substitute.

Last but not the least, pomegranate rinds can be used as a substitute to your toothbrush.  As your gums tend to be very tender and bleed easily, an ordinary toothbrush can damage your infected gums..  A dried pomegranate rind can be used to clean the surface of your teeth as it also fights bad bacteria while at the same time protects your teeth against tooth decay.  You can also use a mixture of pomegranate powder and pepper and apply it on the infected areas of your gums.  Pomegranate rinds can also be mixed with lemon juice, salt, cinnamon and other herbs to create a potent mouthwash.

Periodontal disease or gum disease is a condition wherein the gums become swollen. When the bacteria in the mouth mix with saliva and the residues from any starchy foods or sugar in the diet, this forms the sticky white substance that coats the teeth. This sticky white substance called plaque causes the infection of the tissues that supports the teeth leading to gum disease. If this is not properly removed, it will accumulate to form tartar. This will then lead to the inflammation of the gums or gingivitis, even tooth loss. There is a lot of gum disease treatment available for those suffering from any gum infection. One can get a professional cleaning from a dentist or dental hygienist. Others use natural remedies used to stop gum disease and most of them can be found at home.

One of the time tested gum disease treatment is baking soda. This is a popular ingredient found in toothpastes because it has the capacity to purify and freshen the mouth while gently cleaning the teeth. A small amount of baking soda can be dissolved in a cup of warm water creating a solution. Rubbing this solution can help soothe the gums and remove the bacteria that makes gum disease worse.

Aloe Vera can also be used as a gum disease treatment due to its slight numbing effect that helps quicken the healing of gum tissues.  This can be very helpful for people with extra sensitive gums and teeth.  It was also believed that the Aloe Vera gel can increase the moisture in the mouth and lessen bad breath.

A lot of people have been using tea bags for puffy eyes but not all knew about the capability of a soaked tea bag to cure swollen gums and gum abscesses. Tea bags contain tannic acid which can lessen the swelling of the gums and ease the tenderness. What one can do is to steep the tea bag in a hot water, let it cool for a while and then place it on the swollen gums or to gums that has abscess.

Fresh ginger can be added to green tea to help treat gum disease. Drinking a few cups of green tea every day can help soothe the gums. Small pieces of ginger can be chewed or eaten to neutralize the mouth acid and help in both healing and preventing any gum disease. Some essential oils also are used for remedy to gum disease. One can just add a few drops of essential oils to water, like clove, peppermint and sage, to create a homemade mouthwash.

There are a lot of people who have periodontitis. There are cases which are mild but some are just worse enough to warrant dental surgery. Here are the kinds of periodontitis you should know about:

Gum infection

Swollen red gums is the telltale sign of someone suffering from gum infection. The normal gum color is described as “coral pink”, and once you see that there is an off-red color, then you should be able to tell that gum disease is present. Sometimes the gums bleed, but sometimes it doesn’t, so the lack of blood forming at the base of your teeth should not discourage you from consulting with your dentist.

All of us have bacteria in our mouth, but it is up to us to clean it every day to keep it from spreading and becoming an aggressive type of bacteria, the kind which causes gum infection and inflammation.

Gum recession

Gum recession happens to both the young and the old, and that’s why it’s no surprise if we read about teenagers as young as 16-year-olds who have a receding gum line. As the gums recede, the gums are pulled back gradually which makes for irritated, red gums. This process leaves the root of the teeth exposed which leads to tooth sensitivity and many other complications.

There are a few things that could cause this, including genetics that produce thin gum tissues, but mostly it is caused by periodontitis or gum disease.

Tooth loss

Tooth loss starts with a loose tooth. Periodontal disease also covers the pearly enamels, too. If you have a tooth that feels a little bit wobbly, it is a clear sign that there is an advanced damage already. Perceived looseness is not felt until the teeth itself is not yet detached from the gums. Loose teeth need to be removed immediately to lower the risk of exposing the sensitive parts of the gums and the root of the teeth to bacteria.

All these are the result of carelessness and thoughtlessness when it comes to dental health. It is even made worse if the person who has periodontal disease fall under those people who have a high factor for gum disease. People who smoke, have diabetes or some kind of illness that lowers the immune system, as well as those genetically predisposed to sensitive teeth and the entire family is vulnerable to tooth loss later in life.

If you have just discovered that you have gum disease, don’t panic and just know that this can easily be cured. Gum disease range in severity, from a simple swollen gum or gingivitis to a more serious case like periodontitis. Like what was previously stated, even severe cases of gum disease can be cured. However, what can’t be cured is the result of severe gum infection, fallen teeth due to the collapsing of the bone structure that holds up the tooth

Whatever the condition of your gum disease is, you should see a dentist to received treatment. And after you have received the proper care to treat the infection, you can do something to help it to heal fast and prevent the disease from afflicting you again. This may be considered a lifestyle change towards a more healthy body that will boost the immune system and decrease the risk of contracting gum infection again. Below are some tips to shifting to a better lifestyle and be a healthier you.

If you are a smoker, then stop smoking. Tobacco use significantly increases the risk of developing gum infection. This is due to the chemicals contained in the tobacco such as tar and nicotine. As you smoke, these chemicals pile up on your teeth and around the gum line. Tar specifically is hard to remove because it hardens like plaque. These also promote the buildup of bacteria because when mixed with saliva, these react and form acid. This will increase the factors of the irritants that is present in the mouth affecting the overall balance resulting to damage of the teeth, gum tissues and even the tongue in more severe cases.

To reduce the risk of gum disease, it also helps that you reduce stress. We have a busy schedule day by day and often times do not find time to relax. This is why we get stressed physically, mentally and emotionally. Whatever we feel will surely affect the way that our body functions and is manifested in illnesses. The reason for this is that our immune system is weakened and unable to ward of viruses and bacteria that brings sickness.

Fighting stress involves eating healthy and exercising. Another good thing to combat stress is meditation. Maintaining a balanced diet is beneficial because vitamins and minerals boost to our immune system. Exercising is also a big help because as we sweat, toxins are released from the body which compared to cleansing.

Everyone needs saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by continuously controlling the bacteria and fungi in the mouth. If a person doesn’t produce enough saliva, the mouth gets dry. Having a dry mouth can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.  It can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing and speaking. It can increase the chance of developing dental decay and other infections in the mouth. It can also be a sign of certain diseases and conditions of the body or may be caused by certain medications or medical treatments.

A person can have dry mouth if the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there might not be enough saliva in the mouth to keep it wet. It can be due to some diseases that can affect the salivary glands. Examples of these diseases are diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS and many more. Medicines and drug prescriptions can also cause the salivary glands to make lesser saliva. Examples of these are the medicines for high blood pressure and depression. Drugs used in chemotherapy can make the saliva thicker thus causing the mouth to feel dry. Injury to the head or neck that causes nerve damage can also be an effect to dry mouth because the nerve can’t tell the salivary glands to make saliva. Radiation therapy can also damage the salivary glands if it is exposed to radiation due to cancer treatments.

If a person has dry mouth, he must avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol because it can dry out the mouth. Sipping water during meals can help make chewing and swallowing easier. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy can stimulate the saliva flow on the mouth. Spicy and salty foods must be avoided because it can cause pain in a dry mouth.

Brushing the teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day can help keep the mouth healthy. Sticky and sugary foods must be avoided but if eaten, you must brush immediately. This is to avoid any cavity problems that most people with dry mouth often have.

There are some herbs that can have significant effects on dry mouth. They can provide effective herbal support for the particular state of dry mouth. Chamomile can be used in mouthwashes because it is good for minor mouth and gum infections. Echinacea can also be used because it is a saliva producer and significantly stimulated saliva.

Here’s a challenge. Try to list down these instances that will be provided and put a check every after instance if you have encountered them.  This can be very helpful in checking if something bad is happening to you, especially when we talk about your dental health.  The instances would include: your gums tend to bleed every time you brush your teeth, your gums easily get irritated at the smallest contact, your teeth becomes very sensitive and your breath keeps on smelling foul.  If you have checked 2 or 3 out of the total four instances, this could mean that you are suffering from gingivitis.

What is gingivitis?  By definition, gingivitis is a medical condition wherein the gums are attacked by bacteria.  As a result, your gums tend to become very irritable, sensitive, swollen and painful.  Gingivitis unfortunately is a very mild condition – you wouldn’t even know if you are already experiencing it.  When it gets severe, that is when it will start to become very evident.  One should take this disease seriously because when it gets severe, it may lead to other troublesome conditions such as periodontal disease, tooth loss and ulcerative gingivitis.  This particular condition may also greatly affect daily activities that involve the mouth such as eating, speaking and even breathing.

In this case, how do you get rid of gingivitis?  There are a lot of medical and surgical procedures out there that can cure the said condition but what is more important is to be able to prevent gingivitis from taking place.  This can be done by practicing good oral hygiene.  Some people may fail or feel embarrassed to admit it, but they often neglect their responsibilities to their oral hygiene that is why they encounter a lot of dental problems.  By practicing proper methods in taking care of your oral cavity in general, you would be able to prevent gingivitis and more importantly other possible dental health conditions in the future.

You can also try other gingivitis remedies.  Some may prefer to go the natural way and that is through a change in their diet.  For effective gingivitis treatment, you can include foods that are rich in Calcium, Vitamins C, D and E to your diet.  These are known to boost your resistance against any types of diseases.  You may also have CoQ10 intakes, a substance that can stop free radicals from populating in your body especially in your mouth.

Buying products that contain natural antibacterial substances may also be an effective way to treat gingivitis.  Make sure to look for products that contain aloe vera, neem, grapefruit seed, tea tree, peppermint and cranberry.  These organic substances contain a lot of antioxidants that are effective in improving your overall resistance and wellness.

The recession of the gums is commonly called as receding gums.  It is a progressive process which occurs progressively over time.  Normally, an individual may not notice the symptoms of receding gums until he reaches 40 or up because the changes are so slight from day to day.  But this condition may occur during puberty years.

Oral Health Care Methods To Prevent Receding Gums

Plaque which is the bacteria that accumulates film on the teeth is the most common cause of receding gums.  To improve receding gums naturally, regular brushing is required as it stimulates the flow of blood.  Do you know that extra blood flow washes away the toxins that are produced by bacteria?  So, brushing before heading to bed, brushing after waking up in the morning as well as after each meal should be observed.  Another important thing is to use the right kind of tooth brush.

Brushing your teeth rigorously can hurt the gums and cause it to bleed so avoid harsh brushing of teeth.  Brushing across all surfaces of the teeth using gentle, circular motions is a good rule of thumb when brushing teeth. Brushing along the gum line is also important because gingivitis occurs when bacteria gets underneath the gum line.  Usually, using a soft-bristle toothbrush with a small head would work best.  You can also use motorized toothbrushes as they have controlled motions and smaller heads.

Flossing regularly is even more important compared to regular brushing.  This is because only flossing can get rid of the food particles and plaque that get stuck in between teeth and along the gum line.  It is ideal to floss at each brushing and must be after each meal.

To improve the circulation of blood, massaging your gums is important.  It also contributes to gum health.  To massage your gums, put your thumb as well as your forefinger inside either side of the mouth to hold your gums and after that lightly rub all over.

Natural Methods To Stop Gum Recession

One of the best ways to control bacteria that cause receding gums and improve receding gums naturally is to rinse with essential oils such as clove, peppermint, and sage on a regular basis.  You can add some drops of essential oils to your mouthwash and rinse for 1 minute or 60 seconds.

Raw fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and minerals are beneficial in improving gum recession.  Choose and chew fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamin C and carotene.  Cranberries and cashews should be incorporated in your diet as they have anti-adhesion properties.  Fresh ginger is also good to eat as it neutralizes mouth acid and helpful in preventing gum disease.

Though avoiding sweets, sodas and sugary drinks may be hard to do yet you need to resist them as the sugar they contain tends to feed bacteria and weaken teeth.  Also, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods and white flour based products should be avoided.

These natural oral health care steps are helpful in stopping and improving receding gums naturally.  Taking these steps will finally put a stop to receding gums caused by your gum disease.

Gum canker sores are open lesions that occur on the gums, especially on the edge of the gums near the teeth or sometimes deep into the tissues of the gum lining. Canker sores can occur in any area of the mouth, though. In some situations, these sores are very painful and they can be embarrassing, especially when they are larger and they cause difficulty with eating or speaking. If you are dealing with any of these potential risk factors, it is a good idea to look for ways to reduce your stress. Yoga can be a great option for this.

Reducing Stress Can Help

According to researchers, stress can interfere with the overall workings of the immune system. As such, it is quite common for the body’s overall health to be lacking. If the immune system is unable to work at its highest level, it is very possible that the bacteria found in areas of the body such as the gums, or in other areas to cause inflammation. Inflammation leads to problems with all parts of the body, but it can be especially painful in areas of the mouth. Gum canker sores are often caused by the presence of inflammation.

If you are one of the many people who deal with gum canker sores or other sores in the mouth caused by inflammation and stress, you could benefit from implementing a yoga workout into your day. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

• Focus on yoga movements that are designed to help you to relax.
• De-stress after work by investing in a few minutes of yoga. This is a great way to break up the day and to feel revived when you arrive home.
• Even starting your day with yoga can help to reduce the strain and stress that you feel throughout the day, no matter if it is coming from home, work, kids or elsewhere.

Overall, your goal should be to reduce and improve your health by reducing your stress level. You can do this with yoga or if you have other techniques that you enjoy more so, try them. Be consistent about relaxing and getting rid of the physical, emotional and mental stress you are dealing with. By doing this, you could improve your overall health and well being many times over. And, as a result, you may work to prevent the onset of gum canker sores if this is the underlying cause for you.