Although many people are aware of the risks to dental health posed by gum disease, only a few know that the effects of gum disease go beyond the teeth and gums. They can directly affect the health of the jawbone.
Gum disease is just an infection. If left untreated, it can cause huge oral issues. Fortunately, for better oral health and a healthy smile, restorative dentistry procedures can help reverse the harm caused by gum disease and jawbone loss.
Diseases of the gum and jawbone are known as periodontal diseases. They are diagnosed or treated by periodontists rather than by general doctors. These diseases may, however, lead to other diseases that are of concern to doctors.
Infections of the teeth, gingivae, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone can spread to other tissues, causing diseases like sinusitis, jaw osteomyelitis, and aspiration pneumonia. Maintaining proper oral health is the single most effective way of preventing the production and progression of periodontal diseases.
Bad oral hygiene can also lead to cardiovascular disease, which is why knowing the existence of periodontal diseases and taking effective preventive steps in advance is important. The mechanism in which the margin of the gum tissue covering the teeth wears away or draws back, revealing the root of the tooth is known as gum recession.
When gum recession happens, the “pockets,” or spaces are formed between the teeth and gum line, making it easy to build up bacteria that cause illness. The supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth may be badly harmed if left untreated. This could ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Many individuals do not know that they have a gum recession as it happens slowly. Typically, the first symptom of gum recession is sensitivity to the tooth, or you may note a tooth appears longer than average.
There are a variety of variables that can contribute to the receding of your gums, such as:
A more severe form of gum disease is periodontal disease. It is a disorder that causes swollen, irritated gums. It can ultimately lead to bone loss around the teeth if untreated.
The underlying jawbone (the alveolar bone) containing the teeth’s openings as well as the roots and tissue linking the tooth to the socket, may be affected.
As a consequence of gum disease, several hidden hazards exist in addition to such prevalent diseases. The symptoms of gum disease go beyond the teeth/gums, and the jawbone may be directly affected.
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, results in gum inflammation and is triggered by plaque and tartar bacteria. The gum disease can grow from gingivitis to a more serious type of periodontitis if the signs are untreated.
It can extend through the gum tissue and affect the jawbone as periodontitis progresses. The periodontitis would then infect the teeth-supporting jawbone as well as other tissues. As a result, when left weakened, the tooth may even fall out. This happens because the tissues will start to fail and the teeth may become loose.
Periodontal disease, left unchecked, can cause inflammation that can spread to the bones below the gum line that maintain the structure of the teeth. The gums will start to recede, creating a space between the tooth and the gum where plaque will be stuck.
This will lead to loosening and dropping out of the teeth or the dentist needing to remove them. The bone supporting the teeth can be damaged as the disease grows.
Osteoporosis, tooth infections, and bacterial implant infections (peri-implantitis) are some other factors that cause bone loss around the teeth.
Make calcium and vitamin D a priority. For bone health, calcium is critically essential. A study released by the Journal of Dental care found that 11 out of 17 studies revealed that osteoporosis (fragile bones) is linked with an increased risk of jaw bone loss.
Many calcium-rich foods in your diet, such as cheese, milk, spinach, watercress, and sardines or taking a calcium supplement, are used in order to help preserve bone density.
As it allows the absorption of calcium, vitamin D is also important for bone health. There are many foods that contain vitamin D, such as egg yolks; oily fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines); milk products, and meat products (liver and kidney).
A 2017 review indicated that shortages of vitamin C, vitamin D, or vitamin B12 could be linked to the development and initiation of periodontal disease. In order to help develop healthy teeth and bones, have calcium-rich foods such as milk and cheese in your meal.
Brushing twice a day, flossing, and mouthwash should provide complete oral hygiene. When brushing, adopt the two-minute rule to make sure you are brushing day and night for two whole minutes.
The various treatment methods include flap operation, soft tissue grafting, and bone grafting. These therapies are recommended only when there is no other procedure to cure the disease of the gum and jawbone. If the jawbone disease has resulted in tooth loss, the dentist will have to install a dental implant.
It is only after the jawbone is healed that the treatment procedure will be carried out. When the infection spreads to other parts of the body, the healing process can be complicated. It is also recommended that any medication for gum and jawbone diseases should not be delayed.
You must be conscious of the preventive measures indicated above to Avoid Gum And Jaw Bone Diseases