If you are here, you have probably noticed that you have an inflammation of the gums: a loosening of the teeth. You may have been told that this is periodontal disease or you may have just found out. You know that you have a brushing technique that does not guarantee good oral hygiene. Are you afraid of losing your teeth? Afraid of getting a super infection? Are you thinking of buying a fast toothbrush so that you don't forget certain areas when brushing? Don't worry, we'll shed some light on the subject.
In this article, we will explain what tooth decay is. It will also allow you to know its causes, the risk factors, the symptoms to spot it as well as the necessary treatment proposed by the dentists.
Tooth decay : What is it?
Tooth loosening is an inflammation of the gums that has reached its peak. It thus becomes either a periodontitis: a disease of bacterial origin which leads to a destruction of the bone supporting your teeth as well as the ligament and the gum. Or gingivitis: benign inflammation of the gums. These are particularly irritated and swollen. They bleed when brushing. Our mouths contain a large number of bacteria that should not disturb the health of the gums. However, some pathogenic bacteria can affect the gums. They cause inflammation, which in most cases leads to loosening of the teeth.
On the other hand, tooth loosening is an ordinary dental problem. However, it is important to diagnose it as early as possible because it can lead to much more serious oral diseases.
The main causes of tooth decay
1) Misalignment of the teeth
If they are misaligned, they can put a lot of pressure on adjacent teeth and your jaw. The effect is that they can become damaged, which weakens your gums. This leads to a poor attachment of the tooth to the jaw. The result is that the root of the tooth will become visible. Furthermore, if you have crooked teeth, they are difficult to brush, which leads to an accumulation of plaque and periodontal disease.
2) Teeth grinding: bruxism
Bruxism refers to grinding, clenching or chattering of the teeth.
Here are the two types of grinding that exist:
- Eccentric bruxism: These are nocturnal grindings. They are characterized by lateral micromovements of the jaw. It generally leads to muscle pain and migraine when you wake up.
-Centered bruxism: These are clenching of the teeth. They occur instinctively during the day. It can also be a bad habit you have developed or stress.
3) A bad brushing method
You may not know the brushing techniques that ensure good oral health. If you brush your teeth too quickly, you run the risk of eroding your tooth enamel. It also causes irritation to the gum tissue.
Here are the aspects of brushing that are related to poor brushing methods.
- Taking less than two minutes to brush your teeth
- Choosing a manual toothbrush instead of an electric one
- Not brushing the top, bottom and lower jaw teeth
- Neglecting to use interdental brushes at least once a day
4) Regular chewing of gum
Contrary to popular belief, chewing gum is not a substitute for regular brushing. In fact, regular and brutal chewing of chewing gum causes prolonged stress on the jaws. If not treated directly, this can lead to a TMJ disorder. This is characterised by severe facial pain and neck discomfort. Eating too much chewing gum will also contribute to the wear and tear of your teeth.
5) Using a hard-bristled toothbrush
Toothbrushes with hard bristles damage the gums. This is because they create abrasions. This is mechanical wear of the tooth caused by unsuitable dental material that is too aggressive for the teeth and gums. In addition, it also causes cracks: it leaves marks on the oral cavity and gingival recession: modification of the gum at the level of the neck of the tooth. It is therefore important to opt for a soft or electric toothbrush to find a good compromise between effectiveness against plaque and trauma to the gums. It also slides better between the interdental spaces.
The main advantages of choosing an electric toothbrush :
- It does not damage the enamel
- It does not attack your gums
- It offers several brushing modes for individual use
- Works well with dentures or braces
6) Excessive use of chewing tobacco
Many studies have shown that 50% of gum disease is caused by smoking. Consuming too much tobacco is a bad thing. This leads to an alteration of the supporting tissues of the teeth, otherwise known as the periodontium. It can be said that the main effect of smoking is to increase the amount of plaque on the teeth and to lower the oxygen level in the blood. In addition, the gums also become infected much more quickly in smokers. The most common consequence of gum disease is not only tooth loosening but also tooth loss.
Poor tooth brushing can also lead to tooth loosening. It is therefore important to have a good toothbrush that takes care of your teeth. The Y-Brush toothbrush has the advantage of being a toothbrush that uses sonic technology. It is therefore much less aggressive than oscillating toothbrushes.
The main risk factors for tooth decay
Stress
Numerous studies deal with the impact of stress on periodontal diseases: gingivitis and periodontitis. For example, the study by MILLER and Coll in 1997 showed that more periodontal pockets form in people who are stressed than those who are not. Indeed, as you have understood, periodontitis and gingivitis are infectious diseases linked to the presence of bacteria in your mouth. They cause this type of disease when they are too aggressive. However, a deficit in your immune system can also cause gingivitis or periodontitis. The main function of stress is to disrupt your oral health.
Here are the situations in which stress leads to periodontal infection:
- If you are subject to stress, you will tend to take less care of your oral hygiene: appearance of dental plaque.
- If you are under too much stress, the cells of your immune system weaken much more quickly: less immune defence
- If you are in a stressful situation, your immune system will defend itself less against bacterial aggression: appearance or evolution of periodontal diseases
Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health but it is also particularly dangerous for your oral health. Smoking weakens the gums and the periodontium. In most cases, this leads to oral infections and tooth loosening. However, it should be noted that the risk of developing periodontal disease is much higher if a large amount of tobacco is consumed. Furthermore, smoking is one of the most important risk factors for periodontitis or gingivitis. It is responsible for one third of cases of periodontitis. This is because nicotine and tobacco smoke form a deposit that causes an accumulation of dental tartar. It also encourages the development of certain bacteria. In addition, a product is formed in the liver: cotinine. It is produced by the breakdown of nicotine. Its main effect is to increase the toxic effect of bacteria.
Here are the situations in which smoking leads to a periodontal infection:
- If you are a heavy smoker, you will see bacterial plaque appear in your mouth: the appearance of periodontal disease
- If you smoke a lot, tobacco use will more easily alter the physiology of your oral system: proliferation of bacteria inside your mouth
- If you continue to smoke regularly, tobacco will accentuate the yellowish colour of your teeth: enamel alterations will increase
Diabetes
It is important to know that one in two diabetic patients has periodontal disease. Indeed, this chronic disease tends to favour the thickening of blood vessels. The main consequence of this is to slow down the flow of nutrients and blood. The snowball effect is that the supporting bones of the teeth and gums become weaker. This makes them much more susceptible to oral infections. In addition, diabetes also causes an increase in the glucose level of saliva. Since harmful bacteria feed on these sugars, diabetics are more likely to develop plaque, tartar, gum inflammation and even periodontitis.
Here are the situations in which diabetes leads to periodontal infection:
- If you are diabetic, the high blood sugar in your body will aggravate a small mouth infection: the development of periodontal bacteria
- If you have diabetes, you will be more affected by a thickening of the blood vessels because it makes them much thicker. The exchange of nutrients and the elimination of waste products are therefore much more difficult: weakening of the gum tissue
- If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you must take special care of your teeth. If you don't, the excess sugar between your teeth will stick to your gums.
Pregnancy
You do not need to have an oral check-up during pregnancy. However, pregnancy brings about hormonal and immunological changes that affect oral hygiene. It is therefore important to know that poor oral health has serious repercussions on your health in general: risk of premature delivery or foetal hypotrophy: the foetus does not reach the required size at the time of delivery. Pregnancy also leads to acidification of the mouth. This leads to erosion of the enamel for the most part. This erosion will increase the risk of caries and oral diseases.
Here are the situations in which pregnancy leads to periodontal infection:
- If you are pregnant, hormonal changes can make your gums susceptible to bacteria.
- If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, it is important to keep your teeth clean: hormonal changes do not give you a good resistance to bacteria in plaque.
- In the midst of pregnancy, an unhealthy lifestyle and an unbalanced diet can lead to pregnancy gingivitis.
Potential symptoms of tooth decay
To be as clear as possible, the most visible symptom of receding teeth is the tooth appearing much longer because the root becomes visible. For further guidance, it is important that you know that you should see a dentist if you have the following symptoms:
The following symptoms should prompt you to visit your dentist:
- A greater than usual sensitivity to temperature differences
- A feeling of elongation of your tooth.
- Continuous bleeding from your gums before, after and during brushing
- The roots of your teeth are becoming more visible
- Excessive gaps between your teeth
The treatment needed to stop tooth decay
When you visit your dentist, he or she will suggest two types of treatment for your receding teeth. You can either opt for a natural home treatment or a laser treatment.
Natural home treatment
Here are various home treatments that you can use in case of tooth loosening:
- Coenzyme Q10 : boosts the energy metabolism of the gums to activate the body's repair capacity.
- Baking soda: helps to reduce the dental inflammation that causes tooth loosening.
- Green tea : fights against the appearance of dental plaque.
- Aloe vera gel : It has anti-inflammatory effects and allows good healing of toothaches and the mouth in general.
- Avocado oil : has anti-inflammatory properties that will relieve your pain
- Grapefruit seed extract : can be used as a mouthwash. It has many uses as a mouthwash, it has many benefits including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties.
Laser treatment
For an effective treatment of the infection, it is possible to resort to the solution of laser treatment. This will promote optimal healing to reattach the gum tissue to the teeth. The results are visible 1 week after the operation and there is no pain or discomfort after the procedure.
A good tooth treatment is only effective when accompanied by the use of a suitable toothpaste. Y-Brush toothpaste has the advantage of being 100% natural, paraben-free and of French origin. It therefore does not attack your sensitive gums.
Perfect dental hygiene to avoid tooth loosening
Proper tooth brushing is important for your oral health and especially for your gums. It is therefore essential to remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The most important thing for perfect dental hygiene is to apply an effective technique. It also means brushing your teeth at a good frequency. It is also important to have a scaling at least twice a year at the dentist. This will help you to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Here are two tips to keep in mind for good dental hygiene:
- Brush your teeth after each meal: this will help to remove as much plaque as possible that forms after eating.
- Use a rotating brushing technique from the gums to the teeth: this keeps the upper and lower jaws perfectly clean.
The Y-Brush toothbrush allows you to have a perfect dental hygiene as it brushes all the teeth and their faces at the same time so that no corner of your mouth is forgotten.
We hope that all the tips in this article have helped you to understand better what tooth decay is. We also hope that you have understood the causes, the risk factors, the visible symptoms and the necessary treatment. If you follow all our recommendations you will not have any more oral problems.
