Your smile: You flash it on cam and in the real world. Perhaps you think of it as something to enhance with the right shade of lipstick or gloss. Something to perfect in selfies and promotional photos. You brush your teeth daily and use whitestrips to make them look brighter. But are you paying attention to your gums? Are you flossing? Scheduling regular professional cleanings? Your pretty smile is more than how you look. It’s an indicator of your overall health.
What your smile may say about you
The extremely scary sounding National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has the breakdown. Periodontal disease has been linked to coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pancreatic cancer in men, worsening lung disease and, in pregnant women, low birth weight and premature births. It is also the major cause of adult tooth loss and affects three out of four people.
To understand the causes and symptoms of periodontitis and its potential precursor, gingivitis, it’s important to understand what is and isn’t normal in gum conditions. In a normal state, your gums are pink, not red. They are stippled, not smooth — like the texture of an orange peel. Healthy gums do not bleed, especially when you brush or floss.
Periodontal disease is characterized by a breakdown of the supporting tissues around your teeth, namely the gums and jawbone. It is most often caused by the formation of plaque, a white bacterial substance that forms on everyone’s teeth at some level. Plaque irritates your gums and causes inflammation that often leads to bleeding. This condition is called gingivitis, and it is reversible with timely and proper professional dental treatment.
Problems begin when plaque hardens and forms calculus, or tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist. Calculus comes in two varieties: a visible white version above the gum line, and a black version that forms below the gum line and out of sight. This is the more dangerous version because it builds on itself and can form a wedge between the teeth and gums that causes breakdown of the jawbone. The condition, called periodontitis, is characterized by the formation of gum pockets created by progressive calculus formation. The pockets often contain bacteria or infection. It is important to note that periodontitis is irreversible. It can be treated and controlled, but only through professional under-the-gum cleanings and sometimes surgery. Infected teeth can be removed and replaced with implants. Gum or bone grafts are another option.
Let me say that again: Bone grafts. In your mouth.
So your mouth may be gnarly. So what?
The connection between periodontitis and the aforementioned medical conditions is in the bacteria that enter the bloodstream from your mouth via your circulatory system, affecting everything from your organs to, in the case of pregnant women, the fetus. Once bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can include worsening lung problems through aspiration of the bacteria and, in diabetics, greater difficulty controlling blood sugar levels.
Periodontal disease is recognizable through specific symptoms: bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, redness, tenderness and swelling, receding gums, pus between teeth, painful chewing, halitosis and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Contributing factors include smoking, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, food impaction, badly aligned teeth, poorly fitting dental work such as crowns or fillings, improper diet, hormone changes and some medications. The most unfortunate aspect of the disease is that it rarely hurts until it is in its final stages. It can be asymptomatic for years, which is why it is the number one cause of tooth loss and is present, even in some minor form, in 75 percent of the population.
What can you do?
There are things you can do to keep dental problems at bay. As always, eat a healthy, nutritious diet. Brush your teeth after meals. Use fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily — which less than 20 percent of the population does on a regular basis, if at all. Use caution with whiteners and brighteners, as they can increase abrasion. Overuse of these products can cause your gums to recede and put wear and sensitivity on your teeth.
The best possible means of preventing periodontal disease is strict, consistent dental hygiene. Daily home care using proper technique for brushing and flossing is imperative. This, along with dental checkups and cleanings twice a year, can ensure healthy teeth and gums.
—
Jenna Andre is a total gearhead who also appreciates the simpler things in life. She is not a medical professional, and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Email her at Jenna.Andre@ynotcam.com.
We could leave you with a friendly flossing video, but instead we’ve opted to show you extreme deep dental cleaning instead. You’re welcome.
