Loose Teeth

Loose Teeth
By David Snape

Gum disease can cause damage to the underlying bone structure
that supports your gums and holds your teeth in place. This bone
is relatively vulnerable and can be damaged by the effects of
bacterial infection.

Some individuals like to state that only people in their
thirties and forties develop gum disease. Let's think about that
for a minute. Where did that gum disease come from? Didn't it
develop over a the last ten, twenty or thirty years? Gingivitis
is the beginning stage of gum disease and has been detected in
people of all ages.

When a bacterial infection occurs under the gumline, the
supporting structure is attacked by the byproducts secreted from
the bacteria. Once this structure is eroded you might also
notice that the gums have receded. Again, this didn't happen
overnight.

One key to avoiding gum disease is to realize that chances are
pretty high that you will develop it if you don't already have
it. By creating good habits while in your teens or twenties, you
can prevent the onset of gum disease later in life. You'll be
able to keep your teeth when others lose theirs.

Once the supporting bone structure is compromised the teeth may
become loose depending on how bad the damage is. At some point
the supporting structure may not be strong enough to support the
tooth at all and then it is over. The tooth is lost.

As an adult there is no replacement tooth unless you count
dentures or implants. Gum disease is the number one cause of
tooth loss. Every person on the planet, except for the rare 2
percent who are gum disease resistant, needs to worry about this
problem. Make a plan to prevent or combat it and execute that
plan on a daily basis.

Starting early is the key to prevention. However, if you failed
to start early, you can begin to take steps to prevent your
situation from becoming worse. If you fail to take any action,
there are still options. But, you may not like those options.

I remember that an older man at a recent gathering said, "there
is no substitute for your own teeth". Replacements are poor
substitutes for the real thing. I do not believe that most
people are too lazy to take care of their teeth. Instead, I
believe that they don't understand what will happen if they
don't. How many people understand that most of the adult
population is afflicted by some stage of gum disease? Most go
through their daily lives blind to what is happening just inside
their own mouths.

Some people make a distinction between gingivitis and gum
disease. One is just the beginning of the other. If you are in
your twenties or teens and have been told you have gingivitis,
now is the time to become diligent about oral care. Today's
gingivitis can develop into tomorrow's periodontal disease. It
is just a matter of degree.

Unfortunately, the public is woefully ignorant of gum disease,
what it is and what it can do to you as an individual. Again,
gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss. The Mayo
Clinics website quips that perhaps up to 80% of the adult
population in America has gum disease. Many Americans are
fanatical about taking care of their smiles. Yet, so many still
develop this disease. You can almost bet the statistics are
higher outside of the United States.

You owe it to yourself to find out everything you can to
prevent gum disease or fight it once you become aware of it. Ask
your dentist about the health of your gums every time you go for
a checkup. If you have bleeding during your normal cleaning, you
should be aware this is not normal. Even if you bleed a little
bit it could very well indicate that you have gingivitis or gum
disease.

In addition to the health of your gums, the overall health of
your body should also be considered. It is arguably the most
important aspect of your life. I have found the exercises of
Falun Gong to be very valuable in maintaining health. You can
read more about them on the FalunDafa.org website.

If you have or think you might have gum disease, contact your
dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

About the Author: David Snape writes for the
http://Gingivitiskiller.com website. You can read more about the
steps he takes to combat gum disease there. You can also read
more and even ask questions about gum disease or any other
health related topics on his weblog:
http://tobeinformed.com/category/gum-disease/

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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