Gum Disease Treatments

Why would a yogi refuse anesthetics in the dentist’s chair? Because he preferred to transcend dental medication.

Ever notice that dentists always look down in the mouth?

What kind of award should you give your dentist?
A little plaque.

How does a dentist ride a roller coaster?
He braces himself.

Don’t choose a dentist whose dental diploma is signed “Black and Decker.”

Overheard in a restaurant:

Diner 1: “Rats, I forgot my false teeth!”
Diner 2 reaches in his pocket: “Oh, don’t worry. Here, try these.”
Diner 1: “Too loose.”
Diner 2: “How about these?”
Diner 1: “Too tight.”
Diner 2: “OK, how about these.”
Diner 1: “Hey, these are great! I’ve been needing to find a good dentist!”
Diner 2: “Oh, I’m not a dentist. I’m the local undertaker.”

Here are a few common questions people ask about gum disease, along with the answers.

1. Is gum disease a common condition?

Yes! As many as seventy percent of all people eventually develop it. This makes it the most common problem people have with their oral health.

2. How can I keep from getting gum disease?

Cleanliness is the key to preventing this malady. Always brush and floss every day, and get your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist as often as recommended. Use the brushing techniques your dentist shows you, too. As for the type of toothpaste to use, there are reasons to stay away from commercial toothpastes. A healing blend of essential oils can be used instead.

3. What if I already have gum disease?

The first step is a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist. After this, brush twice a day with healing natural product, and floss daily, too. The professional cleaning will remove the built-up tarter that makes gum disease worse.

This questionaire could work for people where I live. Yes, it asks about teeth. See how you do on the Arkansas Residency Application. (In reality, high class people in Arkansas! And no matter where you live, if you want to take good care of your teeth, start now to fight gum disease.)

If your gums and teeth are healthy, there’s a good chance your whole body is healthy. Likewise, if they are unhealthy, it can be an inroad to other medical problems in the future.

There are at least 500 different strains of bacteria that can live in the plaque on your teeth. Brushing your teeth helps control those bacteria on the outside of your teeth, but for those areas you can’t easily reach - like between your teeth - you need to take extra measures. Of course, I’m talking about flossing. And about making sure you make the effort to get the backs and insides of your teeth when you brush.

In your mouth, those 500 types of bacteria cause gingivitis, with its symptoms of swollen, red gums that bleed easily. Without proper dental hygiene, the infection can progress into periodontitis, which affects the tissue and bone around the teeth.

Unfortunately, those nasty little beasties don’t stop there. They can migrate to other parts of the body, including the valves of the heart! Gum disease has been found to double a person’s risk of having a fatal heart attack.

Believe it or not, diabetes has been found to be linked to gum disease as well. It raises the sugar in the body and makes controlling blood sugar difficult. One recent study showed effective treatment of periodontal disease reduced the amount of insulin some diabetics needed.

One other health problem that has been linked to poor oral health is a strain on pregnancy. Women with gum disease often give birth to premature, low birth weight babies. In fact, poor oral health increases this risk by seven times!

The bottom line is - take care of those pearly whites and those gums that support them!

Gingivitis is a step between healthy gums and gum disease. Here is a picture of gingivitis. Healthy gums are characterized by firm tissues with a stippled texture similar to the skin of an orange. Gums should not have redness or swelling, and the shape should form a scalloped pattern along the gum line. There should be no discomfort or bleeding.

When gums bleed with regular brushing or flossing, it indicates that gingivitis is developing. Gums with gingivitis appear puffy and soft, and lose that stippled appearance, and become slick looking. The shape of the gumline can become distorted, too.

Gingivitis can be reversed with good dental hygiene. If it progresses to gum disease, it can’t be reversed, but you can halt or greatly slow down the damage to the gums.

Gingivitis is a condition that takes place before full blown gum disease takes place. If you have this disorder, it makes sense to treat it before it advances into gum disease.

The cause of gingivitis is usually bacteria. These bacteria in produce toxins, which in turn cause inflammation of the gums. To get rid of gingivitis, you need to kill these microbes before they have a chance to multiply and cause more problems.

Regular tooth brushing and flossing is the first step in the treatment of gingivitis. In many cases, though, the bacteria get entrenched and you need to increase your efforts. The healing combination of essential oils found in Oram Plus makes a great alternative to conventional toothpaste. Just put a few drops on a clean toothbrush and brush as usual.

It’s a good idea to get a new toothbrush every so often. The old ones wear out and can harbor germs. Do choose a soft bristled brush for best results.

Our kids, who have been super disciplined about caring for their teeth since their recent dental visits, have been setting a timer for 3 minutes, and brushing until it rings. What a great way to keep that old gingivitis at bay! Follow up with a daily flossing! (By the way, you might want to use a dental floss that is treated with tea tree oil for even more essential oil support.)

Chewing gum is a popular treat for many people. We have one child that would rather chew gum than eat candy. Personally, my jaw gets tired after a while and I have to get rid of it. How did anyone ever get the idea to chew gum anyway?

The first people to chew something similar to chewing gum chewed on oozy sap from trees. The ancient Greeks and the Mayans both had a type of tree that oozed sap that made a good substance to chew on for cleaning the teeth and as a bad breath cure. In the part of North America that is now New England, native people were chewing the sap from spruce trees.

The first example of chewing gum sold commercially in the U.S. was made from spruce. Ultimately, however, the “chicle” sap from the Sapodilla tree, which was used by the Mayans, became the preferred sap for making commercial gum. Paraffin wax was used for chewing for a while, but if you remember those wax lips and scary teeth we used to get back in the ’60’s, you know that chewing on wax is not near as pleasant as chewing gum.

Chewing gum makes the breath feel fresher for a while, but it is certainly not a bad breath cure! If you like to chew gum, though, make sure you get one sweetened with xylitol and not with sugar. We all know sugar damages your teeth. You might look for special chewing gums that contain herbs like neem or nutrients like zinc gluconate.

If you have gum disease, the best bad breath cure is to fight the disease with a program of natural gum care and daily flossing.

Do you want to see some really gross pictures of gum disease? Here’s another page that explains the disease as well as showing more pictures. Granted, these cases are extremely advanced. Still, it makes sense now to take care of those gums so this doesn’t happen to you.

Here’s one last link for you. This one shows the progression of gum disease, starting with healthy gums, and advancing through gingivitis and on to periodontal disease. According to this web page from the University of Manitoba, there are eight warning signs that you have gum disease.

1. bleeding gums

2. red, swollen, tender gums

3. gums pulling away from the teeth

4. pus between the teeth and gums if you press on the gums

5. loose permanent teeth, or spaces widening between the teeth

6. a change in the fit of your bite or changes in the way a partial denture fit

7. chronic bad breath

8. itchy gums

If these symptoms sound like you, it would be a good idea to start using a remedy for gum health. Oram Plus is an all natural blend of essential oils combined specifically for the health of your teeth and gums.

Here’s a neat article that tells all about flossing your teeth. Pictures are included. Our kids have been really diligent to floss their teeth since their recent visits to the dentist. I like dental floss for getting stuff out from between my teeth. Toothpicks always feel like they’re breaking off and making matters worse. With floss, I get the good feeling of picking my teeth and knowing I’m taking good care of them, too.

Flossing is an important part of taking care of your gums and teeth. When you brush, you can only reach so far. With floss, you can get to food particles and plaque you can’t reach otherwise. Once daily is generally considered often enough for flossing.