Gum Diseases and Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Gum diseases may be categorized into two broad groups, namely gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is an inflammation with the gingivae (gums) in all of the age ranges but manifests more frequently in youngsters and teenagers.

Periodontitis is definitely an inflammation with subsequent destruction of the other tooth-supporting structures, namely the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum and subsequent loss of teeth. This problem mainly manifests at the begining of middle age with severity increasing within the elderly.

Gingivitis can or may progress to periodontitis state within an individual.

Gum diseases have been discovered to become just about the most widespread chronic diseases around the world which has a prevalence which is between 90 and 100 % in adults over 35 years of age in developing countries. It’s already been shown to be the main cause of loss of tooth in individuals Four decades and above.

Halitosis bad breath is among the major consequences of gum diseases.

Some of the terms which are greatly associated with halitosis bad breath and gum diseases are the following:

Dental Plaque- The main desire for the prevention and treatments for a condition can be an understanding of its causes. The key source of gum diseases is bacteria, which form a complicated on the tooth surface known as plaque. These bacteria’s would be the source of halitosis bad breath.

Dental plaque is bacterial accumulations on the teeth or another solid oral structures. When it’s of sufficient thickness, it seems like like a whitish, yellowish layer mainly over the gum margins on the tooth surface. Its presence can also be discerned with a conventional dye or fluorescent dye (demonstrated by illumination with ultraviolet light), disclosing solution or by scraping the tooth surface over the gum margins.

When plaque is examined under the microscope, it reveals many several types of bacteria. Some desquamated oral epithelial cells and white blood cells are often present. The micro-organisms detected vary based on the site where they’re present.
There are gram positive and gram negative organisms, filamentous and flagellated organisms, spirochetes and occasionally small numbers of even yeasts, mycoplasma and protozoa.

Clean tooth surfaces after brushing are typically covered by a skinny layer of glycoproteins from saliva called pellicle. Pellicle enables the selective adherence of bacteria to the tooth surface.

Throughout the first few hours, the bacteria proliferate in order to create colonies. Furthermore, other organisms may also populate the pellicle from adjacent areas to form a complex accumulation of mixed colonies. The material present relating to the bacteria is termed intermicrobial matrix forming about 25 % of the plaque volume. This matrix is mainly extra cellular carbohydrate polymers made by the bacteria from dietary sugars; salivary and gingival fluid components; and dying and dead bacteria.

Small amounts of plaque are appropriate for gingival or periodontal health. Many people can resist larger amounts of plaque for too long periods without developing destructive periodontitis (inflammation and destruction with the supporting tissues) but they will exhibit gingivitis (inflammation from the gums or gingiva).

Diet And Plaque Formation- Diet may play an essential part in plaque formation by modifying the quantity and composition of plaque. More the plaque formation could be, you will see more smelly breath.

Fermentable sugars increase plaque formation simply because they provide additional energy supply for bacterial procedure provide the raw materials (substrate) for that manufacture of extra cellular polysaccharides.

Secondary Factors

Although plaque could be the responsible for gum diseases, a number of others viewed as secondary factors, local and systemic, predispose towards plaque accumulation or modify the response of gum tissue to plaque. The area factors are:

1) Cavities within the teeth;

2) Faulty fillings;

3) Food impaction;

4) Poorly designed partial dentures (dentures);

5) Orthodontic appliances;

6) Misaligned teeth;

7) mouth-breathing

8) Grooves on teeth or roots near gum margins;

9) Reduced salivary flow; and,

10) Tobacco smoking.

The systemic factors which potentially impact the gum tissues are:

1) Systemic diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, Down’s syndrome, AIDS, blood disorders and others;

2) Hormonal changes – during puberty, pregnancy, contraceptives intake and menopause;

3) Drug reactions, e.g. immunosuppressive drugs, antihypertensive drugs and antiepileptic drugs; and,

4) Dietary and nutritional factors, e.g. protein deficiency and vit c and B deficiency.

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