What is Gum Disease? Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a condition in which the gums, deeper supporting tissue,
and potentially the bone surrounding teeth become infected and inflamed. Gum disease starts with plaque on the teeth, a
sticky white substance that coats teeth. It's formed when bacteria in the mouth mixes with saliva and residues from starchy foods
and sugar in your diet. If plaque isn't properly removed from teeth by brushing and flossing, it accumulates and hardens
underneath the gumline into tartar. Once tartar builds up, it's much more difficult to remove than plaque and usually requires
a cleaning at the dentist. Over time, it can lead to inflamed gums, or gingivitis. This is a mild form of gum disease. One
of the most common symptoms is darker red gums that bleed with brushing or flossing. Professional cleaning can reverse gingivitis.
If there is bleeding with pain, it is a symptom that the infection and inflammation has spread to the deeper tissues and bone,
called periodontitis. After the age of 30, periodontitis is responsible for tooth loss, more so than cavities.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Red, swollen gums
Bleeding while brushing or flossing
Receding gums
Chronic bad breath
Loose teeth or widening space between gums and teeth
Treating Gum Disease
If you had an infection on your arm or leg that was eating away at your bones and ligaments, you wouldn't rest until it was cured. Unfortunately, many people allow this situation to exist in their mouths--putting not just their teeth but their lives at risk. The longer gum disease is present, the more damaging it will be to your health. As we age, other health issues appear, so those who have had gum disease the longest are at greater risk.
Problem: When the bacterial infection associated with gum disease moves into your mouth's bony tissue--a condition called periodontal disease--it quickly causes inflammation and triggers the liver to release C-reactive protein (CRP) into the bloodstream. Elevated levels of CRP have been linked to arterial damage and plaque. Worse still, this same circulating bacteria increases risk of stroke, diabetes, respiratory ailments, osteoporosis and digestive problems, and puts constant stress on your immune system, lowering your resistance to other infections.
Good news: Even advanced gum disease can be reversed with regular visits to a dentist combined with a lifetime program of careful oral hygiene.
Spotting Gum Disease
Healthy gums are firm and pinkish in color, and form a collar-like rim around the teeth. They are not tender and don't bleed when you brush or floss. If your gums are red, tender or swollen or if they bleed when you brush your teeth, you probably have early-stage gum disease, known as gingivitis.
Left untreated,gingivitis eventually progresses to periodontal disease, marked by tooth and gum sensitivity to heat, cold, sugar or acidic foods...bad breath...chronic gum bleeding (when eating, brushing, flossing or when any pressure is applied to gums)...sudden throbbing pain or deep, dull pain in the teeth and gums...and loose teeth.
If you have any of these symptoms, see a dentist immediately. Even if you think your teeth and gums are healthy, you should visit your dentist at least once a year for an oral checkup. During this checkup, a registered dental hygienist should evaluate your gums by using a small metal device to gauge the depth of the "pockets' at the base of each tooth. The severity of gum disease depends on the pocket...
Pockets between 1 millimeter (mm) and 3mm may indicate gingivitis, which can typically be cared for by your hygienist. The pockets usually respond to regular cleanings and careful home oral hygiene.
Pockets deeper than 3mm--your hygienist may also perform a scaling procedure, scraping away unhealthy gum tissue, plaque and tartar to allow new, healthy tissue to form.
Pockets deeper than 5mm usually indicate more advanced periodontal disease needing special care. Typically, treatments are scheduled every one to two months until the disease clears up. Early periodontal disease is treated the same as gingivitis--but you MUST floss, use an irrigator and have frequent deep cleanings.
For advanced periodontal disease, your dentist or a periodontist may cut away part of the gum to reduce the pocket size, thus shrinking the available breeding ground for bacteria.
Home Care for Gum Disease
For home care, brushing, flossing and a water irrigator are the king, queen and crown prince of oral hygiene. Here are some tips for using these tools effectively...
Brushing---when brushing, work on the gums as well as the tooth surface. Follow this pattern--the insides of your teeth, the outsides of your teeth, the back sides of your back teeth and, finally, the chewing surfaces. After brushing, rinse your brush with warm water to remove as much bacteria as possible. Let your toothbrush dry completely before reusing.
Use a soft-bristle brush, and replace it every few months. If you've been sick, such as with a cold or the flu, replace your toothbrush or sterilize it in boiling water. To minimize buildup of bacteria-filled plaque, brush in the morning after waking, as soon as possible after every meal and before going to bed.
Flossing---Floss at least once a day. To floss properly, wrap the floss around the middle fingers of each hand, then use your forefingers to manipulate the floss. Pull the floss up or down the side of one tooth until it presses against the gum, then slide it up and down six to eight times while pulling it back and forth against the tooth surface, as if shining a shoe. Next, do the same on the opposite side. Use a fresh area of the floss for each tooth.
Mouthwash---If you have gum disease, you should use an anti-bacterial mouthwash, such as Listerine or Tom's of Maine, after every brushing or flossing session. Your dentist may recommend a prescription mouthwash, such as Peridex, instead of over-the-counter mouthwash. Rinse your teeth vigourously for at least 20 seconds, being careful to suck the liquid between your teeth, then finish by gargling.
Diet and Nutrition
Avoid foods containing sugar, which is a favorite for bacteria. Also include in your diet raw or lightly steamed vegetables and fruits and whole grains. Reason: Unlike refined sugar, the particles in whole grains and rice are too large for bacteria to ingest. If you eat foods containing sugar, finish your meal with something raw and fibrous, such as an apple. Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth immediately afterward.
Natural Remedies for Gum Disease
Here are seven natural remedies that are used to treat gum disease.
1) Vitamin C
The link between vitamin C deficiency and gum disease is well known. Back in the 18th century, sailors ate limes during long trips at sea to keep their gums from bleeding. A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that people with low intakes of vitamin C had higher rates of periodontal disease. Researchers looked at 12,419 adults in the United States. People who consumed less than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 60 mg per day were 1.5 the risk of developing severe gingivitis as people who consumed more than 180 mg. Vitamin C is believed to help gum disease because vitamin C is an antioxidant and is needed to repair connective tissue and accelerate bone regeneration.
To boost your intake of vitamin C, eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as grapefruit, oranges, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, strawberry, red pepper, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe. Vitamin C can also be taken in supplement form. Avoid chewable vitamin C, because the acidity may promote the erosion of tooth enamel over time.
2) Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce susceptibility to gum disease. A study by the Boston University evaluated the association between vitamin D status and gingivitis. They analyzed data from 77,503 teeth in 6700 people in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D were less likely to experience bleeding gums during gingival probing.
Sun exposure is one of the most important sources of vitamin D, because UV rays from the sun trigger the synthesis of vitamin D in skin. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements suggests 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure twice a week, however the further away from the equator you live, the more polluted your city, and the more cloud cover there is, the less likely that this sun exposure will be sufficient. Look for at least 200 IU in a multivitamin.
3) Stress reduction
Stress contributes to gum disease by increasing plaque accumulation. A University of Dusseldorf study examined how exam stress would impact plaque and gum bleeding. All students had a professional tooth cleaning 4 weeks prior to exams and then 4 weeks after exams. They found that students had significantly higher rates of plaque and gingivitis after exams compared to a control group of students that didn't write exams.
" Relaxation Response
" Mindfulness Meditation
" Diaphragmatic Breathing
4) Coenzyme Q10
There is some evidence has linking gum disease to lower levels of coenzyme q10, an antioxidant made naturally in the body, found widely in foods, and available in supplement form. Some researchers say that coenzyme q10 is needed to properly repair gum tissue. A study by Osaka University in Japan found improvement in infection and inflammation after 3 weeks of taking a topical coenzyme q10 toothpaste. You can look find toothpaste containing coenzyme q10 at natural grocers, health food stores, and online. For more information on coenzyme q10, read the Coenzyme Q10 Fact Sheet,
5) Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has proven antibiotic properties. A topically applied tea tree oil gel was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 49 people with severe chronic gingivitis. They were told to brush twice a day and were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. The group that brushed with tea tree oil had a significant reduction in the degree of gingivitis and bleeding. However, tea tree oil gel did not reduce the amount of plaque. Use only commercial tea tree toothpaste, not tea tree oil. For more information on tea tree oil, read the Tea Tree Oil Fact Sheet.
6) Cranberry
Cranberry may help gum disease by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. Look for cranberry juice with no added sugar at the health food store. A typical amount is 4 ounces a day. Consult your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin or have kidney stones.
7) Consider an oscillating rotating electric toothbrush
A Dutch study reviewed randomized controlled trials and found that the use of electric toothbrushes with oscillating, rotating heads for 3 months reduced gingivitis compared to manual brushing with a regular toothbrush. There was also some reduction in plaque, although it was not statistically significant. Another study found that the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000, which has an oscillating, rotating head, was more effective at reducing plaque and bleeding of gingivitis compared with another electric toothbrush.
Sources
Carinci F, Pezzetti F, Spina AM, Palmieri A, Laino G, De Rosa A, Farina E, Illiano F, Stabellini G, Perrotti V, Piattelli A. Effect of Vitamin C on pre-osteoblast gene expression. Arch Oral Biol. 2005 May;50(5):481-96.
Deinzer R, Granrath N, Spahl M, Linz S, Waschul B, Herforth A. Stress, oral health behaviour and clinical outcome. Br J Health Psychol. 2005 May;10(Pt 2):269-83.
Dietrich T, Nunn M, Dawson-Hughes B, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and gingival inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):575-80.
Hanioka T, Tanaka M, Ojima M, Shizukuishi S, Folkers K. Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:s241-8.
Nishida M, Grossi SG, Dunford RG, Ho AW, Trevisan M, Genco RJ. Dietary vitamin C and the risk for periodontal disease. J Periodontol. 2000 Aug;71(8):1215-23.
National Institutes of Health Fact Sheet on vitamin D
Soukoulis S, Hirsch R. The effects of a tea tree oil-containing gel on plaque and chronic gingivitis. Aust Dent J. 2004 Jun;49(2):78-83.