What is plaque?

Plaque is the name given to a film of bacteria which is constantly forming on all teeth. Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease. Good oral hygiene will help control formation of plaque and remove it from the teeth surface. If plaque is not removed effectively is hardens with minerals from your saliva and becomes tartar (calculus). It is then no longer possible for you to remove it with the toothbrush, and it needs to be removed professionally.

Gum (periodontal) Disease

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth. It’s mainly caused by bacteria from plaque build-up.  Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults.

In some people who are susceptible to gum disease, the body over-reacts to the bacteria around the gums and causes too much inflammation. In others, the inflammation doesn’t clear up properly. The result of the intense gum inflammation is that it also affects the bloodstream, and is believed to slowly damage blood vessels in the heart and brain over a long period of time.

A growing number of studies over many decades show that gum disease is contributing to other health problems, such as

• heart disease check it out here.
• stroke – people with gum disease could be twice as likely to get strokes  check it out here.
• diabetes – gum disease in diabetic patients makes it much harder to control blood sugar levels and these individual have a higher risk of developing diabetic complications check it out here.
• also individuals with gum disease have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes check it out here.
• rheumatoid arthritis check it out here.
• according to the American Academy of Periodontology, gum disease in men increases the risks of prostate problems, impotence and cancer check it out here.
• in pregnant women, gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight f the baby check it out here.
• in older women, gum disease was associated with much higher incidence of particular types of cancer check it out here.