10.27.08
Gum Disease - How to Prevent it
Gum disease - gingivitis and periodontitis - is the Number 1 cause of tooth loss for people over the age of thirty. In fact, one of the old slang descriptions of old age - being “long in the tooth” - is actually a reference to one of the main symptoms of gum disease. Teeth do not actually get longer with age - quite the opposite - but as diseased gums recede, it makes teeth appear longer.
Here is another interesting fact: properly cared for, your teeth could be around for thousands of years after the rest of your body has crumbled into dust. Paleontologists and archaeologists frequently find the teeth of ancient people that have survived, even when very little else remains.
It is possible to live past the age of ninety with a mouth full of healthy, solid teeth. It is also possible to have a mouthful of loose, decaying teeth before the age of forty.
The difference depends on two factors: 1. Spending no more than five minutes a day practicing good oral hygiene 2. Limiting the amount of sugar and starches with which your teeth come in contact. In the best of all possible worlds, we would at least brush, and often floss, after every single meal.
However, in today’s insanely busy, workaday world, it is too easy to neglect oral hygiene altogether. Most dentists nonetheless agree that one good, thorough cleaning a day is sufficient to prevent gum disease. (Avoiding tooth decay on the other hand requires more frequent brushing, as well as cutting back on one’s sugar intake.)
When this is neglected, the bacteria begins to build up around the gum line, creating a hard, unsightly substance known variously as plaque, tartar and calculus. Once this has formed around the gums, it is virtually impossible to remove without the intervention of a dental professional. If it is not removed, the result will be bad breath, bleeding gums and ultimately, the loss of teeth.
There are several misconceptions regarding what constitutes good oral hygiene. This will be covered in the next article on preventing gum disease, but for now, its useful to understand that you do not need to brush vigorously with a still brush, nor do you need expensive toothpastes with exotic ingredients.
The best possible way to prevent gum disease requires only consistency, a few inexpensive items, and a few minutes a day.
