Osteoporosis and Periodontal Diseases

If gums inflammation is left untreated, the disease will continue. If it continues, the underlying bone around the teeth will dissolve and will no longer be able to hold the teeth in place (Universi... ... middle of paper ... ...aque buildup are often the culprits. In fact, bacterial plaque buildup is the leading cause of gum disease. Other factors that contribute to gum disease include: genetics, poor oral hygiene, food stuck in the gums (may be due to a malocclusion), mouth breathing (may lead to severe drying of the gums and teeth in the front of the mouth), diet low in nutrients and/or a vitamin C deficiency, smoking / the use of smokeless tobacco, autoimmune or systemic diseases, diabetes, hormonal changes in the body, bruxism (repeated involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth), certain medications (some medications can cause an overgrowth of the gums that can lead to periodontal disease). In my opinion, substance use has a notable effect in users’ teeth and gums.

Periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease, is a common and severe gum disease that damages the gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). The gums and ligaments become infected and die due to exposure of bacteria and other pathogens. As the infection worsens, the teeth are more exposed below the crown. Below the crown a tooth is the root. It does not have much enamel compared to the crown because it does not normally come in contact with food or caries-creating material.

Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is more commonly known as gum disease or gingivitis. This infection is serious enough, that it can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. This chronic infection starts around the tooth and it affects the supporting bone and gums. Periodontal disease can affect anywhere from one tooth to all thirty-two teeth. The disease pathology starts with the plaque that builds up on your teeth everyday.

This creates pockets that allow bacteria to build up, which leads to an infection. As your body fights the harmful bacteria, the bone and tissue holding the teeth in place begin breaking down. The pockets deepen and begin filling with pus. Once you reach this stage, you may need to have surgery to save your teeth. If not treated, the infection begins destroying the bone around the teeth.

Periodontitis is the gum disease that was left untreated and it can lead to severe damage. When gingivitis advances to periodontitis, periodontitis makes the gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces. The spaces sort of like gaps, are more prone for it to get infected with bacteria. When the bacteria grow below the gum line, the body tries to fight off the infection. The body might break down the bone and the connective tissue that holds the teeth because the bacteria might grow in the tissue.

Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is an “inflammation of the gums that leads to multiple dental diseases…caused by infections or by plaque that adheres to the surface of the teeth” (Blake 86). Gingivitis is an “early form of periodontal disease that involves gum swelling, bleeding, and oral pain” (Blake 86). Thus, periodontal disease typically moves from the early stage of gingivitis to more progressive stages, gradually worsening until teeth are potentially lost or separated from the gums or jaw bone. Subsequently, the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems can occur (Nordqvist 1). In considering periodontal disease, the signs and symptoms include the following indicators: • Persistent bad breath.

Gingivitis is a type of periodontal disease and is when the gums are inflamed. The gums in the teeth destroy the tissues because of the inflammation and infection known as periodontal disease (MedlinePlus n. pag.). Gingivitis typically precedes periodontitis but it is important to understand that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis (“Gum Disease” n. pag.).

What is Gingivitis? Gingivitis is a mild reversible periodontal disease that results in inflammation of the gum tissue. If not treated it can lead to irreversible damage of the associated ligaments and bone that support the teeth, leading to a more serious condition known as periodontitis (Arndt and Nagelberg, 2010). In most cases of gingivitis, bacteria normally found in the mouth ingest and convert carbohydrates into acid. The combination of bacteria, acid, food, and saliva form what is known as plaque (Wood, 2006).

“The feeding results in plaque, which is a gummy film that covers the teeth. The plaque will then harden and form tartar. Tartar and other toxic byproducts when left unchecked can lead to much more serious problems of inflammation and infection of the gums. In more serious cases, the body fighting back could lead to weakening of the tooth root structure and inevitably needing to be replaced with dentures.” (Vinocur) Quoting Cherae Farmer-Dixon, D.D.S., project director of community-based dental education at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, "We don't see the dentist unless our teeth bother us." Johnson goes on, “the big problem with the wait-'til-it-hurts plan is that periodontal or gum disease--the leading cause of tooth loss--is often painless in its early form.

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene, which encourages plaque to form on teeth, causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue that can also cause bleeding of the gums. If gingivitis is left untreated it can turn into periodontitis, which is the second stage of gum disease and more serious.