Daily Dentistry Advice

Periodontal diseases are a group of diseases affecting the tissues (periodontium) that surround and attach to the teeth in the jaws. These are diseases of inflammatory and infectious causes (bacterial) that depending on their degree of involvement is called gingivitis, when the inflammatory process affects only the superficial periodontal (gum) and are not affected tissues that hold the tooth.

When the inflammatory process affects the deeper periodontal tissues, destruction of bone and ligament support and supporting the teeth. At this level of involvement is called periodontitis. If left untreated periodontitis, develops destroying all the support of the tooth and thus the accommodation and loss.

Frequency of Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis is one of the most common diseases of man and is very common in all ages (young 75% from 20 to 25 years).

Part of the gingivitis, even in the absence of treatment, do not progress to the destruction of tooth supporting periodontal tissues (periodontitis).

Periodontitis is very rare in children and adolescents (about 1 case per 10,000). however, its frequency increases with age (around 10% at 30-40 years and 25-30% between 50-60 years). Therefore, it is a relatively common disease in adults and its prevalence increases sharply with age.

It is a chronic infectious disease that causes progressive and irreversible destruction of the tooth. There are several factors that favor its appearance, including highlight, first, a diet rich in carbohydrates with high caries activity (sucrose, fructose, lactose), the susceptibility of the tooth and the presence of cariogenic microorganisms (streptococci, actinomyces and lactobacilli).

Second is the formation of tooth anatomy, composition and amount of saliva produced by the individual and the individual hygiene practice.

The origin of decay lies at the confluence of a diet rich in sugars and the presence of cariogenic bacteria, which included dental plaque, degrade carbohydrates with the formation of acids. These acids (pyruvic, lactic, acetic) are really responsible for the demineralization of tooth enamel. This is so that when the pH of the oral cavity reaches values less than 5.5 there is a dissolution of hydroxyapatite forming enamel and increased porosity. (more…)