Inflammation or degeneration of the tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth—the periodontium made up of gingiva (gums), the bone the teeth are "set" in (alveolar bone), the supporting ligaments (periodontal ligaments), and the tissue that connects these structures (cementum). The most common and often initial form of periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis, which can be acute (short-lived episode), chronic (ongoing), or recurrent.
Untreated gingivitis proceeds further with increasing inflammation and involvement of more tissue, such as the membranes around the base of the teeth and possible erosion of the underlying bone. This is then called periodontitis and is the major cause of bone loss in adults.
SYMPTOMS
Red, inflamed gum tissue that bleeds easily when exposed to very minimal injury such as with flossing or brushing the teeth, or eating hard foods such as raw apples. There is usually no pain.
OCCURRENCE
High in individuals with poor oral hygiene—poor habit of teeth brushing and flossing with a characteristic buildup of bacterial plaque (sticky deposits made up of mucus and microorganisms that grow and adhere to carbohydrate residues left on the teeth due to insufficient cleaning habits). Increased during pregnancy and puberty, which may be secondary to hormonal factors due to increased physiological need for folic acid and B vitamins during these periods.
Other risk factors for periodontal disease include problems with the biting surface (malocclusion), breathing through the mouth, food impaction, nutrient deficiencies (especially folic acid and vitamin B complex), decreased local tissue circulation secondary to plaque buildup or consistently eating glow-fiber foods and insufficient flossing, and buildup of calculus (tartar or calcified plaque mixed with saliva).
Gingivitis may one of the first signs that there is an underlying systemic problem or debilitating disease such as diabetes or leukemia, heavy metal toxicity, lowered resistance, allergies or vitamin deficiencies. Periodontal disease may be caused or aggravated by hydrochloric acid deficiency, insufficient calcium in the diet or stressor foods that rob it from the system, and imbalances in the body with other minerals such as magnesium and zinc.
Birth control pills tend to increase the body's requirements for folic acid and, if this is not met, there may be an increased risk of gingivitis. smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer periodontal disease, than nonsmokers.
The best treatment is prevention with daily removal of plaque through brushing and flossing, routine cleaning by a dentist every six months (more often if the disease is already occurring). Any underlying systemic diseases must also be treated.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT
- Floss one to two times daily and then rinse mouth (for 1 minute ) with several mouthfuls of liquid folic acid (0.1% solution). If you cannot find liuid folic acid, buy folic acid crystals in 800 mcg capsules, empty 2 capsules in water and use this to gargle.
- Take folic acid orally (500 mcg to 1 mg daily dependent on severity of condition)
- Vitamin C (1-3 g daily) with bioflavonoids
- Vitamin A (25,000 IU daily for several months)
- Calcium (650-1,500 mg daily)
- Vitamin B complex
- Beta carotene, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Zinc
The following therapies can be undertaken at home under appropriate professional supervision.
- Toothpaste or other oral hygienic products that contain vitamin C, tea tree oil, citrus seed extract, or baking soda promote the health of the mouth, gums, and teeth.
- Brush teeth with mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
- Brush tongue if coated in morning.
- Massage gums with fingers.
- For bleeding gums and pyorrhea (discharge of pus), use one teaspoon apple cider vinegar in a cup of water, morning and evening, as mouthwash.
- Massage gums with coconut oil or goldenseal, bayberry, or myrrh
- Applying chlorophyll directly to the gums, rinsing with diluted hydrogen peroxide, or using a toothpaste containing tea tree oil, citrus seed extract, or hydrogen peroxide can aid in reversing gingivitis.