What is Gum Disease?
There is nothing more painful than having toothaches or problems related to gum tissue in the mouth. Gum diseases start off as irritating discomforts and, without proper treatment, can cause disease and sickness to spread throughout the body and can cause death. Regardless of age or gender, no one is immune to gum disease. Even if an individual has perfect white teeth, bacteria can hide between the teeth and gums and cause long term dental problems.
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Types of Howell Gum Diseases
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The two types of major gum diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease. The direct cause of this disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on the tooth and gums. Periodontis occurs when there is inflammation around the ligaments and bones that support the teeth which causes infection. The symptoms can be bright red or purple gums, bad breath and gums that bleed. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), gingivitis is the easiest to treat.
How Howell Gum Disease Originates
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According to the ADA, gum disease can be a product of an unhealthy diet. A diet which lacks calcium or sufficient iron for healthy teeth can cause gums to become severely infected. Improper gum and tooth care, such as not flossing or brushing after meals and also improperly brushing and flossing and using the wrong size or type of toothbrush, can also lead to gum disease.
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Warnings
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The ADA has identified these warning signs of gum disease: bleeding and swelling of gum tissue, toothaches, neck and jaw pain as well as sensitive teeth that hurt when food and drink is consumed or brushing of the teeth can be signs of gum disease. These symptoms must be taken care of as soon as possible by homemade remedy or a visit to the dentist to examine the root cause of the problem.
Effects
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This disease can lead to headaches, pain at the root of the gum, lymph node pain in the area of the neck and can ultimately spread as bacteria to other parts of the body including the heart. It can cause intense pain and sleepless nights, causing the victim to feel drowsy or sleepy.
Temporary Relief
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There are home remedies that can be used to battle gum disease. The recommendation from "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" is to purchase organic tea bags, such as green tea or any tea that has detoxification herbs and put it between the gum and tooth for two hours in six hour increments. Increasing your calcium and iron levels through vitamin supplements can be helpful as well as avoidance of sugary food and drinks. If the pain exists for 5 to 7 days, the best solution is to visit your dentist.
Potential Costs for Gum Treatment
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The cost to treat Gum Disease varies on the type of problems with the gums or teeth. Some examinations may include x-rays, which may or may not lead to tooth extraction or surgery. If you have a job which has dental insurance and benefits, you may be covered for certain dental procedures. Cost can range from $50 to $2,000 dollars.
If you don't have dental insurance, there are neighborhood dental clinics which provide basic services to the community for people of certain income designation, elderly people, children and homeless individuals. Your state dental association will have a list of dentists or community organizations that provide free dental checkups, cleaning and analysis.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt
