(also referred to as...) Gingivitis, Gum Disease, Periodontitis, Pyorrhea, Trench Mouth
Description Over the centuries, gum disease has been referred to as: pyorrhea, gingivitis, trench mouth, or periodontitis. More than 90% of people over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease to some extent. In fact, gum disease is second only to the common cold as the most frequently acquired health disorder. It usually starts at age 12 and progresses through life. And though problems tend to arise overnight, via irritated gums or even loose teeth, periodontal disease is a slow, life-long process.
Symptoms and Signs: The early stages of the disease are unobtrusive; you are not likely to "discover" any problems until symptoms are advanced and chronic. The early warning signs however, include tender gums and possibly an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Bad breath, which can result from factors, is often an indicator of gum disease. Bacterial wastes in the mouth, which become more numerous as the disease progresses, contain sulfur -- a substance that creates the foul odour. Professional inspection can reveal the amounts of bone and gum around each tooth and record the kinds of bacteria present in the mouth. It is an important gauge of the extent of the disease and goes beyond a simple look in the mirror. As the disease progresses into more advanced stages, symptoms include redness, bleeding, and/or recession of the gingivae (gum line), up to the point where teeth loosen and actually fall out.
Causes: Bacteria line your mouth and digestive tract. Some can eventually penetrate the gum line and dig deep pockets into the roots of your teeth -- to places where even careful brushing and flossing cannot reach. Although there is not one single factor that determines gum disease, there is no doubt that bacteria are a prime target of therapy. Bacteria are the symptoms of a larger problem, notably the failure of your immune system to defend your body against them. In that light, poor nutrition, stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption are all closely related to gum disease. This disease is also related to a deficiency of vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, folic acid, and/or niacin. People with disorders that attack the immune system, such as AIDS, are also more susceptible to gum disease. Heredity is also a factor. Hormonal imbalances during puberty and pregnancy often leave your immune system weakened and are related to gum disease. Oral contraceptives have also been linked to the disease. Low levels of calcium intake during the young adult years, coupled with low dietary levels of vitamin C can double the risk of developing periodontal disease. These findings come from two studies recently reported at the 1998 meeting of the International Association for Dental Research. If you smoke, your level of calcium absorption is likely lower, still, as cigarettes interfere with the body's ability to assimilate vitamins and minerals.
What to Expect: If bacterial growth is left uninterrupted, gum disease progresses through the following stages: Early Gingivitis The outer layer of skin is eaten away by bacteria. The bacterial buildup inches downward along the root and causes an inflammation of the gums. The inflammation then generates a pocket-shaped crevice between the tooth and the gum line (a veritable bacterial breeding ground!!). At this point the gums may show a little redness and may also bleed. A little dragon breath may also be present. There is usually no pain or discomfort at all. Although the disease may not progress beyond these initial stages, early gingivitis presents other potential harms: bleeding gums mean that there is no skin protecting that area, and bacterial invasion into the bloodstream becomes facilitated. Other parts of your body risk infection. In fact, 60% of heart valve infections are traced to oral bacteria. At one point, physicians recommended that patients with damaged heart valves have all their teeth removed if gum disease was present! Thankfully other techniques are now used for heart valve patients -- but there is always a potentially dangerous problem when dealing with infection. Moderate Periodontitis The pocket generated by inflated gums becomes deeper (3 to 4mm deep), harbouring even more bacteria. The bacterial deposits actually begin to calcify, and cleaning your teeth at home becomes a much harder task. At this point your gums may begin to feel tender. Recession of the gum line is another indicator of this second stage. Periodontitis (Advanced Gum Disease) The gradual recession of the gum line becomes an obvious symptom. The worsening of breath is another sign that the disease is progressing. Bacterial invasion trenches deep enough into the gum line and begins eating away at the underlying bone -- the structures that holds your teeth in place. And once a certain amount of that bone is lost, teeth become loose in their sockets. At this point, bacterial deposits are now dug too deep to be removed by brushing or flossing and require professional treatment. Periodontitis Teeth will begin to drift out of place as more bone is lost. Abscesses and acute infections of the gums may begin to occur. If allowed to continue, the disease will literally destroy your jaw bone, at which point your teeth can no longer be supported and will fall out.
Remedies This disease is hard to stop once started, especially in advanced stages. A preventative approach is the best strategy.
Foods Eat hard fruits such as apples and pears. These fruits help clean the teeth and gums as you eat them. Herbs When applied directly, aloe vera soothes inflated gums. Clove oil is good for the temporary relief of gum pain. Gargle with a cool infusion of chamomile to help treat gingivitis. Echinacea, hawthorn berries, myrrh gum, and rose hips can either be applied directly or taken as a tea. These herbs stimulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Goldenseal has strong antibacterial properties and destroys the bacteria that cause gum disease. NOTE: This delicate, wild herb is becoming increasingly rare as its popularity grows. Use only after you have exhausted other possible courses of antibacterial treatment. To prepare a tea, use 1/2 to 1 tsp. powdered root per cup of boiling water. Let steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily. Add honey or lemon to reduce the bitter flavour. If using a tincture, take 10 to 40 drops two times daily. You may also swish this amount in your mouth (if tincture is alcohol-free) and then swallow. If using capsules, take 250 to 500mg of powdered extract. Do not take for more than one week at a time and avoid completely if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure. Homeopathy Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy. Kali phosphoricum: helpful for gums that bleed easily and for spongy, recessive gums. Mercurius: for loose teeth and swollen gums. Lifestyle Brush your teeth and floss daily. Avoid using the same toothbrush for longer than one month, and make sure to clean your toothbrush after each use. Bacteria do not shy away from living on toothbrushes! Try storing your toothbrush in grapefruit seed extract to kill germs. Electric toothbrushes have proven to be very effective in removing bacteria. Brushing with baking soda is also effective in battling bacterial buildup. Professional cleanings, at least on a yearly basis, are a key tool in combating, and especially in preventing gum disease. Those cleanings become necessary in more advanced staged of gum disease, as cleaning at home becomes more difficult. Surgery may be necessary in severe cases of periodontal disease, where infected gum tissue is removed and the supporting bone structures are reshaped. Consider lifestyle changes to improve immune system response: reduce alcohol consumption and smoking, get adequate sleep, proper nutrition, exercise on a regular basis, and consider activities to reduce stress. Eat a diet that includes foods that actually exercise teeth and gums: fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables and whole grains. Avoid breath mints and fresheners. These products contain sugar that, in turn, acts as food for bacteria, aggravating the problem. To alleviate soreness and for healing, rub vitamin E oil on inflated gums. A tablet, which can be purchased at most drugstores, when chewed will leave traces where there is bacterial buildup on your teeth. Be sure to floss regularly. When brushing, brush your gums gently and at an angle so the bristles get in between the teeth and the gums. Minerals Calcium and magnesium help prevent bone loss around the gums and are especially important if you smoke. If supplementing with calcium, take 1,500 mg daily in chelated form for best absorption. If supplementing with magnesium, take in a 2:1 ration of calcium to magnesium, e.g., 1,500mg calcium, 750mg magnesium. Vitamins Take 2,000 to 4,000mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids in divided doses daily to promote healing. This vitamin is very important if you smoke. Bioflavonoids retard plaque growth. Start with the lower dosage and increase up to bowel tolerance. Again, ensure that supplementation occurs in divided doses. Coenzyme Q10 increases tissue oxygenation and helps reduce pocket depth, swelling, bleeding, redness, pain, and looseness of teeth. Take 25 to 100mg daily. Vitamin A and E promote gum tissue healing. If supplementing with vitamin A, take 10,000IU daily. If supplementing with vitamin E, take 400 to 800 IU daily. Vitamin B complex helps for proper digestion and healthy mouth tissues. Take one 50mg capsule once or twice daily. Do not take more than 50mg at one time as your body cannot absorb a larger amount in a single dosage. Zinc enhances immune function. Take 25mg daily.
Actions and Remedy Listings
For More Information ... Kennedy, David. How to Save Your Teeth. Health Action Press, Delaware. 1993. Stay, Flora Parsa. The Complete Book of Dental Remedies. Avery Publishing Group, New York. 1996.
See also Cavities
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