Understanding Periodontal Disease

In order to understand what periodontal disease is, one must first have a basic understanding of the teeth and their supporting tissue and structures. Teeth are held in place by the root of the tooth which is embedded into the jaw bone. The way that the tooth attaches to the jaw bone is through the use of a thin stocking called the periodontal ligament. The gums in a person's mouth cover the jaw bone and attaches to the teeth in order to support and keep the tooth in place. All of the soft tissue in the mouth that is used to support the tooth is referred to as the periodontium. The periodontium is what becomes damaged and sick when a person gets periodontal disease.

Plaque buildup happens when a person fails to brush their teeth. Many people mistake plaque for food debris, but if you take a look at plaque under a microscope, it actually looks like millions of squirming germ like worms. The truth of the matter is that plaque is very toxic and can cause damage to the mouth. The germs that are naturally in the mouth create a film made from polysaccharides. This film sticks to the teeth and anything embedded in this film has the ability to have direct contact with tooth enamel. This film can be the perfect breeding ground for harmful plaque as the film provides the perfect breeding ground for harmful plaque bacteria.

When this film is not removed from the teeth by way of brushing, the plaque can continue to multiply and speeds up the process of breaking down the tooth enamel. Excessive plaque buildup is what can cause periodontal disease as the plaque can eventually start to break down the soft tissue in the mouth. This causes the gums to bleed and the teeth that are being held in place by the gums to loosen. The teeth that can become loose are usually also stricken by great amounts of pain. Teeth with eventually fall out, or will need to be removed by a dentist in order to alleviate the pain.

While periodontal disease is very easy to prevent, it can be very hard to get rid of once this disease is contracted. The best rule of thumb is to practice good oral hygiene and make sure to brush and floss daily. This will help to reduce the film buildup on the teeth which house plaque creating bacteria. Through regular brushing of the teeth and flossing, plaque buildup can be reduced and the risk of getting periodontal disease can be greatly minimized.

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