What are the Chief Causes Of Gum Disease?

There is a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation and general apathy out there related to oral health. Most people do not understand how gum disease is caused, how to identify the warning signs or how to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Because of this, around 70 percent of the adult population develop some form of gum disease.

Gum disease can become a serious health concern as infection can spread into the bones. It can also cause secondary infections elsewhere in the body and you can lose your teeth.

In the early stages, gum disease can be reversed and you will be saved from its lasting effects. However, if the condition worsens, then you may have to live with lasting effects such as tooth loss. It is therefore important to understand enough about the condition to protect yourself from it.

Bacteria And Plaque

Gum disease is caused by bacteria. Bacteria are ever present in the mouth, but after eating or sleeping the amount is increased. Unless you remove bacteria regularly from your mouth, you will eventually develop gum disease. Large amounts of bacteria in the mouth lead to infection of the gums. In addition, bacteria react with saliva and cause plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance that sticks to your teeth and if it is not removed, it will harden and become tartar. Plaque and tartar release toxins that irritate the gum tissue. Plaque and bacteria can be removed by brushing, but only a dental expert can remove tartar from your mouth.

Other Factors

While bacteria and plaque are the causes of gum disease, there are some factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition. These include:

• Smoking
• Tobacco chewing
• Certain medications
• Hormonal changes
• Unhealthy food
• Stress
• Chronic diseases
• Genetics
• Poor oral hygiene
• High sugar intake
• Low intake of vitamins and other nutrients

Gum Disease Symptoms

Notable signs of gum disease are:

• Redness of gums
• Swelling
• Receding gums
• Bleeding
• Bad breath
• Unpleasant taste in mouth
• Pain while chewing

Gum Disease Treatments

The kind of treatment required to overcome gum disease will depend on how advanced the condition has become. In the early stages you may be able to overcome the condition merely by having a deep clean from your dentist and then continuing with a committed daily oral health routine.

If the condition has become advanced, then you may need root planing or even gum grafting surgery in order to overcome the condition.

OraMD is a natural oral health product that can help to prevent or treat gum disease. In addition, the product website offers a four-step oral hygiene program, which will maximize your oral health.