Dental Plaque and Periodontal Disease
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease usually begins with gingivitis - inflammation of the gums - and may progress to periodontitis, which loosens teeth and causes pain in the affected areas where the dental encasements show redness, swelling, heat and the development of dental "pockets". In more advanced cases, the underlying jawbone may demonstrate destruction.
Why Does Periodontal Disease Develop?
Although microbial plaque is a known cause of periodontal disease, the general immune function of an individual must be considered. The use of steroids, antibiotics and various other drugs may destroy nutrients and increase fungal levels (refer to The Fungus Among Us article) in the body -- the result is lower immunity and a possible cause of gum inflammation and plaque accumulation.
Additionally, detrimental accumulation of mercury from amalgam fillings lowers immunity through a depletion of beneficial, antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase.
Tobacco smoke also contributes to the destruction of antioxidant enzymes, as do yeast, mold and fungi found in some food. Also, during the process of chewing, there occurs an intense amount of pressure that is normally cushioned by the collagen matrix of the periodontal membrane.
The health of the periodontal membrane determines its ability to protect against injury and inhibits the factors that contribute to the periodontal disease process. Furthermore, various nutrients are necessary for collagen synthesis. It is the nutrient deficiencies that strongly contribute to atrophy (receding gums).
Can Periodontal Disease be the Source of Other Problems?
Scientific research conducted in the United States and other countries demonstrates that Periodontal Disease is linked to other disorders and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, digestive diseases (refer to Dental Plaque and Digestive Disorders article), spontaneous abortions, cancer, and other medical problems.
The poor health of your teeth, gums and oral tissue (tooth decay, periodontitis, mouth ulcers, etc.) may alert you to disease production in the body even before you notice the common symptoms.
Numerous bacteria, viruses, and fungi live in the mouth without any visible problems until the body’s immunity is lowered by toxic accumulations that reside in the plaque imbedded between the teeth and gums.
How Can Periodontal Disease be Prevented?
Daily oral hygiene using compatible non-invasive solutions that cleanse and promote healing are found in selected plant extracts. Misleading information about harsh chemical substances can be highly detrimental to the health of the entire body.
A common misconception occurs with an often used substance found in drinking water and tooth care products. In the artcle, Just What is Fluoride? by Jeff Green, Volunteer Director of the Non-Profit Centers for Safe Drinking Water, this misconception comes to light:
If you were to ask the average person on the street, "What is fluoride?" the answer would most likely be, "it's the stuff that they put in toothpaste to fight tooth decay."
Indeed, after decades of exposure to advertisements touting the benefits of fluoride as a super cavity fighter, the common perception of fluoride as a benign substance used primarily to reduce tooth decay has become well ingrained in the public persona.
Although fluorides decay prevention effects are solely topical, such as in the use of toothpaste, ingested fluoride is, however, linked to health risks.
The U.S. Public Health Service has identified pregnant women, infants, individuals with heart or kidney disease, the elderly, menopausal women, diabetics, and the malnourished as persons most susceptible to fluoride toxicity.
After decades of experimentation, 98% of Europe is now fluoride-free, as is Japan.
The alternatives to keeping the tissues of the mouth healthy without further toxicity is turning to nature for help. Natural components of various plants contain elements that safely and effectively not only cleanse and detoxify, but also may help the body to prevent diseases.
They help by removing the build-up of toxic-laden plaque that enters the very small tubules of the damaged dentin. They also spread into the root canal and blood stream, thus helping to clear toxicity in those places.
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