| |
Do children develop gum diseases?
Yes, but it is not common. However children with very poor oral hygiene
do get gum disease. |
|
Can vitamin deficiency cause gum diseases?
Yes, Vit C deficiency is known to cause a condition known as Scurvy. |
Does habits like pan, beetle nut chewing,
smoking affect the gingiva?
Yes, the ingredients present like lime, tobacco and other byproducts can
stain the teeth, help plaque accumulation and irritate the gums. Some ingredients
in pan has been shown to cause cancer in the mouth. |
What effect does diabetes have on the gums?
Uncontrolled diabetes can make the gum more prone to periodontal disease.
Diabetes patients also suffer from delayed healing of the gum tissue. |
Hard toothbrush or vigorous brushing, are
they harmful to the gums?
Hard tooth brush or/and excessive brushing force frequently causes the gums
to recede, leading to exposure of root surface and sensitiveness of the
teeth. |
Do all gum disease require surgical procedure?
Several non-surgical techniques are available for treating periodontal conditions,
and the technique chosen will depend on the extent of damage that the disease
has caused to the periodontium. The Periodontist will evaluate the condition
of the periodontium and removal all the plaque and tartar deposits. In addition
to this he will also use various antiseptics and antibiotics that are specifically
meant for treating periodontal disease. If this treatment also fails to
completely resolve the disease, he will have to resort to periodontal surgery. |
What is a graft and can it replace tissues
lost due periodontal disease?
If the gum disease is diagnosed at a stage when there is not much loss of
periodontal tissues, the lost tissues can be grafted. Grafts can be of soft
tissues or hard tissues. The former is always taken from another site in
the mouth of the patient being treated. Hard tissue grafts can purchased
from tissue banks. |
Can gum/periodontal problems recur after
surgical treatment?
Treatment of gum disease whether by surgical or non-surgical means only
takes care of the existing problem. If proper maintenance therapy is not
given by the dentist or if patient does maintain good oral hygiene the gum
disease will certainly recur. |
Can gum disease lead to teeth problem?
Sometimes prolonged infection of the gums spreads to the tooth through the
root apex into the pulp tissue of the tooth leading to death of the tooth
itself. Such tooth requires both root canal and periodontal treatment. |
Why does the tooth look longer after surgical
gum treatment?
Gum disease left untreated for a long time leads to loss of supporting bone
around the roots of the teeth. The lost bone is replaced by unhealthy soft
granulation tissue, which although it does not reduce the mobility of the
teeth keeps the gum margin at almost the normal level. During surgical gum
treatment the unhealthy granulation tissue is removed that results in the
collapse of the gum tissues into the spaces left behind by the granulation
tissues. As a result the gums recede and make the teeth appear longer |
How to keep the gums healthy?
By keeping good oral hygiene, having regular dental check-ups and a good
balanced diet |
Should we avoid brushing and flossing when
the gums bleed?
Bleeding gums indicated presence of gum disease. As poor oral hygiene is
the primary cause of gum disease one should realise that it is improper
brushing technique and flossing was the cause of the problem. Correct brushing
and flossing technique should be adopted, which should be supplemented by
mouth wash. |
Is there any advantage of mechanical brush
over regular brush?
No, but they are helpful for physically handicapped patients. |
