DENTAL CARIES & GUM DISEASE FAQ's

What is dental plaque?

Dental plaque is a sticky almost invisible film of bacteria or germs that is constantly forming on your teeth and gums. If it is not brushed off after you eat, it combines with sugars present in food particles to produce acids which attack and harm your teeth. Plaque is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease.

How does plaque cause tooth decay?

1. Plaque turns food particles stuck between the teeth into acid which attacks the tooth enamel. With repeated acid attacks,the enamel wears away and a cavity is formed.

2.Once a cavity forms, the decay spreads to the next layer- the dentine. But, if the cavity is filled by the dentist, the decay can be stopped.

3. If the cavity is not treated at the dentine stage, the decay spreads deeper into the pulp and can be very painful.

4. In the last stage, the decay spreads to the root and causes an abscess, accompanied by severe pain. At this stage only root canal treatment can save the tooth. In some cases, the tooth may have to be extracted.

What is gum disease?

In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

What are the signs of periodontal disease?

Four basic signs will alert you to periodontal disease are:

1) Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing or any other time.
2) Puffiness and swollen and bright red gums.
3) Recession- Gums that have receded away from the teeth, sometimes exposing the roots.
4) Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing.

How does gum disease start?

Healthy gums closely grip the sides of the teeth anchoring them firmly in place, with the help of bone.

Unremoved plaque produces acids and bacterial irritants. It also hardens into calculus, commonly called tartar which presses around the gum line. As the gum becomes inflamed, it may bleed. This condition is known as gingivitis.

If untreated, the infection spreads to the bone supporting the tooth. Pus is formed, the bone begins to erode, and eventually the tooth may be lost. The condition is called Periodontitis or Pyorrhea.