Gum disease: gingivitis, periodontitis and gingival recession

Gum disease: gingivitis, periodontitis and gingival recession



General
In the oral cavity, there are two main types of microbes: those responsible for the formation of dental caries and those responsible for diseases of the gums and periodontium. These microbes are present in the bacterial plaque. They produce toxins and enzymes that attack the gums and periodontium of the tooth.
They generate infectious bacteria called gingivitis and periodontitis which in the longer term, lead to the loose teeth or even fall.


Gingivitis bacterial
It is the inflammation of the gums by bacterial plaque. This inflammation is a response from the body to attack by setting up a defense system: the immune system.

It is often a painful swelling of the gums that appears red, smooth and sometimes bleeding at the slightest touch (during chewing or brushing).
This gingivitis can be localized to one or more teeth, but may also extend to the whole of the dental arch.
This is the first stage of the diseases that can reach the periodontium.
In addition, recent studies suggest that the bacterium Bacteriodes gingivalis, which is involved in gingivitis, could be linked with atherosclerosis.

It is reversible if remove plaque bacteria that caused this by setting up an effective brushing, a scaling if necessary and use in conjunction with a antiseptic mouthwash prescribed by the dentist.
Risk factors for development of gingivitis

These factors either local or general.

1. Local factors
Most of the time the gum disease are due to local causes:
poor oral hygiene, the presence of tartar, teeth malposition, fillings (amalgam and / or composite) old, crowns inappropriate and / or the presence of fixed braces, which hold more easily plate make brushing less effective and thus the accumulation of bacterial plaque.
With the plaque, there is a gradual increase in the content bacteria increasingly destructive, which together produce toxins. These toxins accumulate and eventually cause the formation of pus bags of 'pockets', then there is attack of oral tissues and triggering of the inflammatory response of the body.

2. The general factors
It all factors that will affect the defense response of the body (inflammatory / immune). They make the gums more susceptible to attacks of tartar and bacterial plaque. At the slightest irritation, gum ignites.
These include: hormonal factors (during puberty, rules, pregnancy, menopause ...), smoking, stress and certain diseases of the immune system (the AIDS virus, hepatitis ... ).
In addition, in metabolic diseases like diabetes, there is an imbalance of oral flora, components of saliva, which causes the development of gingivitis.
Finally, they may also be due to a deficiency of vitamins.

It is therefore necessary, in the presence of these factors, not to let the irritants settle, ie to eliminate bacterial plaque even more drastic and more frequent détartrages.
Periodontitis
When gingivitis is not treated, more or less long term, it will evolve into periodontal disease: periodontitis.
Bacterial plaque that has accumulated will migrate through the path gingivodentaire to the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.

The microbes that bacterial plaque, known as gum, are, first, destroying the tissue supporting the teeth (ligament and bone) under the action of toxins and enzymes they produce, and secondly, turn into hard tartar in gingival increase so that the phenomenon of mechanical destruction.

It should be noted that smoking is considered a major risk factor for the development of periodontitis.

The consequences of periodontitis

1. And loose tooth mobility
The anchor of the tooth (alveolar bone and periodontal ligament) is gradually destroyed, making the teeth mobile: they are mobile and can differ from each other.
The 'leak' of the bone near the tip of the root is followed by the gum: the root is gradually, the loose teeth. If no treatment is undertaken, the destruction continued until the fall of spontaneous tooth.

2. Periodontal Abscess
The destruction of the tissues supporting the tooth causes the formation of gum pockets, real nests to bacteria causing an infection localized phenomenon: the periodontal abscess which resulted in the seepage of pus.


Gingival recession
With age, the gums tend to descend, leaving the root unprotected. This phenomenon is called gingival recession. The root is exposed to the oral environment. It is more susceptible to cavities, tooth sensitivity increases, because it is not covered with enamel.