Gum disease is a threat to your oral health and general well-being. Poor oral health may contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, pre-term low birth weight babies, respiratory disease, stroke and possibly osteoporosis. People who have missing teeth—especially the elderly— can suffer from digestive problems due to the inability to masticate (chew) and to inadequate nutritional intake, and therefore, a decreased quality of life.

Varying degrees of gum inflammation, otherwise known as periodontal disease, affects approximately 200 to 300 million Americans. Periodontal diseases as a group are the cause of tooth loss in adults aged 35 years and older. A whopping 75 percent of the population suffers from periodontal diseases in its many guises, which can be chronic or acute.

Periodontal disease is generally a chronic, inflammatory, painless, progressive, silent infection, which is why many people with acute infections don’t recognize it. If left untreated, it can cause destruction of the gums, of the alveolar bone (where the teeth rise from the jaws) and of the outer layer of the tooth root. At its worst, periodontal disease can cause bone and tooth loss.

Once you’ve been diagnosed, it may be too late to prevent further damage, including bone loss and subsequent tooth loss. When the disease is advanced, gums can ooze pus, which, when swallowed, causes people to feel sick. Pain associated with periodontal disease and tooth loss diminishes the quality of life.

The amount of tissue in your mouth is equivalent to the tissue on your arm from your wrist to your elbow, making any oral disease a very large infection. Your mouth is complex, and anything that goes wrong in it may affect your entire body. When your mouth and body are healthy, that combination—a cooperation called synergy—can achieve a greater effect on your overall health. If one system is unhealthy, it affects the other.

The only source of oral debris is food. Saliva is a disinfectant and a protective element that controls some, but not all, of the bacteria that forms in your mouth. The plaque on your teeth contains bacteria, which produces chemicals that can cause gum tissue to be infected and to swell, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bone loss, which can lead to tooth loss. Flossing and brushing every surface of every tooth and brushing your gums every time you eat are your primary defenses. Making an appointment to see your dentist or periodontist regularly is your next best defense against periodontal diseases.

Brushing and flossing are supposed to remove the plaque, but when they don’t, the plaque hardens and becomes tartar. Tartar coarsens the surfaces of the teeth, which causes the plaque to stick more tightly to them. Brushing and flossing have little power over tartar. Untreated tartar can harbor bacteria, which produces toxins that attack the supporting tissue (ligaments that attach the gums, teeth and bone) under the teeth.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research says that approximately 75 percent of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases are a primary cause of tooth loss. Many people don’t know they have periodontal disease until they go to the dentist. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for checkups and professional cleanings.

What You May Not Know About Your Teeth and Gums
Take the following quiz for a few surprises.
True or False

1. Chewing gum will help clean your teeth.
   
2. Eating apples, or any other food, will remove plaque from your teeth.
   
3. Mouthwash freshens your breath, but may be harmful to your teeth.
   
4. Mouthwash and toothpaste treat symptoms of gum disease.
   
5. Mouth odors can be cured by over-the-counter mouthwashes, toothpastes, lozenges and breath mints.
   
6. Water is the most important mouthwash.
   
7. You must load your toothbrush with as much toothpaste as the beautiful people in the television commercials use.
   
8. Baking soda is an effective tool in keeping your teeth healthy.
   
9. Television commercials for toothbrushes that claim they can eliminate tartar and gum disease are deceitful.
   
10. Toothbrushes that are shaped differently from the classic straight toothbrush are just as effective, if used properly.
    
11. Hard and medium bristle toothbrushes are as effective as soft bristle toothbrushes.
    
12. Electric toothbrushes are superior to conventional toothbrushes.
    
13. The natural color of all teeth is white.
    
14. Tooth whiteners will not damage the enamel on your teeth.
    
15. The only active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride.
    
16. Brushing your teeth in the morning freshens your breath and reduces cavities and gum disease.

1. False. Chewing gum does not clean your teeth.
   
2. False. There is no food you can eat that will clean your teeth.
   
3. True. High alcohol levels in some mouthwashes can be detrimental to the enamel on your teeth. Constantuse of any mouthwash can upset the normal balance of bacteria and chemicals in your mouth.
   
4. False. Mouthwash and toothpaste do not treat any symptoms of gum disease.
   
5. False. Mouth odors cannot always be cured by over-the-counter mouthwashes, toothpastes, lozenges or breath mints. Some mouth odors are caused by poor oral conditions. Bad breath can be a sign that something is wrong with your oral health. Diligent dental care, periodontal therapy and educated home care are the best ways to protect your oral health.
   
6. True. Water is the most important mouthwash. Rinse after every brushing and after every snack, if possible, to help rid your mouth of food debris.
   
7. False. You don’t have to cover the length of yourtoothbrush with toothpaste. You only need a dot of toothpaste to do the job.
   
8. False. Baking soda can be abrasive and ruin the enamel on your teeth.
9. True. Television commercials for toothbrushes thatclaim they can help eliminate tartar and gum diseaseare deceitful. It is not the toothbrush or the toothpastewe use on the toothbrush that makes a difference in our oral health. Any combination of toothbrush and toothpaste will eliminate tartar at and under the gum line if they are used properly.
10. True. Toothbrushes that are shaped differently fromthe classic straight toothbrush are just as effective ifused properly.
11. False. Hard and medium-bristle toothbrushes are abrasive. They can leave indentations on your teeth, cause tooth sensitivity and may cause your gums to recede. Dental professionals recommend soft-bristle toothbrushes.
12. False. Electric toothbrushes are not superior to conventional toothbrushes. Any toothbrush can be effective if it is used properly.
13. False. The natural color of all teeth is not white. Toothpaste that claims to whiten teeth does not contain enough hydrogen peroxide to have an effecton the color of your teeth. Whitening toothpastes can be abrasive and cause your teeth to become sensitive.
14. False. Some tooth whiteners can damage the enamel on your teeth.
15. True. The only active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride.Fluoride in drinking water has helped control cavities in the general population.
16. False. Brushing your teeth in the morning freshens your breath, but will not reduce cavities or gum disease. Brushing and flossing after meals and snacks rids your mouth of food residue reduces plaque and increases oral health.