Pyorrhea
Pyorrhea or
periodontal disease
to give it a proper medical term is a disease of the teeth socket. It
is
one of the most widely prevalent diseases these days. It affects the
membrane
surrounding the teeth-root, with loosening of the teeth, pus formation
and shrinkage of the gum. This disease is the primary cause for tooth
loss
among adults.
Pyorrhea affects
persons
of all ages. About half the adult population over the age of 18 suffer
from early stages of this disease. Even children of 5 years or so may
have
signs of the disease. It progresses with increasing age. Unless treated
properly, it may lead to loss of supporting bone of teeth and
ultimately
to tooth loss.
Symptoms
The gum become
tender and
on pressing pus oozes out along the margin of teeth. Pus from the
cavities
continually finds its way into the stomach. When the disease is far
advanced
the gum becomes swollen and the stomach, being dosed with increasing
quantities
of pus, does not function properly. Sepsis may appear in various forms,
digestion is disturbed, liver trouble sets in and the whole system is
adversely
affected.
Causes
Pyorrhea is trigged
by bacterial
activity. A thin layer of harmful bacteria is continuously building up
in our teeth. If it is not removed by tooth- cleansing, especially
after
meals, it forms an organized mass on the tooth surface in a short time.
This is referred to as a "bacterial plaque" when accumulated, bacteria
in plaque produce many toxins which irritate the gums, cause them to
become
inflamed, tender and bleed easily. The bacterial activity is, however,
facilitated by the lowered vitality of the system caused by acidosis as
a result of wrong feeding habits. The habitual use of white bread,
white
sugar, refined cereals and much meat, leads to swamping of the blood
and
tissues with acid waste mater and to the development of the disease in
one form or another. Pyorrhea is one of the many forms this swamping of
the system with acid impurities takes.
Other factors
contributing
to the development of pyorrhea include injury to the gums and
supporting
structures by physical and chemical irritants in the mouth, wrong
brushing,
stagnation of food particles and improper use of tooth picks. In many
cases,
prolong tension and even allergy can lead to this disease. In some
cases,
the use of the pill and pregnancy can give rise to or aggravates the
condition.
Treatment
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