What Actually Causes Gum Disease?

You may not care about what causes gum disease because very few people are aware of the medical consequences that can come about due to this condition. Although preventing gum disease (periodontal disease) is possible through good oral hygiene, the problem can quickly spread out of control if you are not careful. Treating gum disease often involves some sort of antimicrobial agent, especially if the problem spreads above the gum line.

Gum disease is caused by anaerobic bacteria in your mouth and they are always present in your mouth. These harmful bacteria cause an infection in the gingival tissue (your gums) and toxins are a by-product. Preventing gum disease is as simple as removing these harmful bacteria with daily brushing and flossing. The anaerobic bacteria attach to pellicle, a thin film that forms on our teeth and becomes plaque. If this layer of plaque is not removed with good oral hygiene practices, then it will harden and become tartar. At this point, gum disease prevention has failed and gingivitis (the mildest form of periodontal disease) is now present. You can now expect to see symptoms of gingivitis, such as:

• Inflammation of gingival tissue
• Reddened gums
• Gums are sensitive to touch
• Bleeding when gingival tissue is touch or disturbed, especially when eating hard foods such as apples or corn-on-the cob; may occur during brushing as well

Preventing gum disease problems is complicated by the fact that there are several reasons why the anaerobic bacteria population grows out of control. Factors that may complicate gum disease prevention are:

• Use of stimulants
• Consumption of alcohol and other diuretics
• Poor diet
• Dry mouth
• Other medical problems
• Medication

The body has a natural defense against periodontal gum disease-human saliva. The harmful bacteria in our mouths do not thrive in well-oxygenated environments. Human saliva, however, is rich in oxygen and that is why it helps keep the harmful bacteria populations under control.

However, saliva cannot penetrate behind plaque which is why you need to brush regularly to remove the plaque. If it hardens into tartar, then treating gum disease is impossible until the hardened layer is removed because the bacteria can breed at will-the saliva cannot penetrate behind the tartar. However, with good oral hygiene, the plaque can be removed each day before it hardens into tartar and gingivitis begins. If you do not take these dangerous microorganisms seriously, however, gum disease and heart problems are interrelated because the bacteria spread beyond the mouth during advanced periodontal disease.

Now because human saliva is so critical to gum disease prevention, any activities that cause you mouth to become dry will necessarily help the anaerobic bacteria population swell. Stimulants increase your metabolism rate (and increase use of liquids) and will cause a drain upon the immune system making it easier for anaerobic bacteria to grow. Laxatives and dietary supplements commonly contain stimulants and both are known to cause dry mouth. Even natural stimulants such as caffeine will make gum disease prevention more difficult as it also acts as a diuretic.

While a dry mouth and weakened immune system are contributing factors, the anaerobic bacteria are the true causes of gum disease and controlling their population through good oral hygiene and proper hydration are the best defenses against the condition and its potential for causing further medical problems.

For an all natural product that helps stimulate salivation as well as help kill the harmful anaerobic bacteria inside your mouth, try OraMD®. OraMD® is an all-natural gum disease product made from the essential oils of almond, spearmint, and peppermint. OraMD® offers a long-term solution for gum disease and other periodontal problems by cleaning the mouth and killing the bacteria that cause volatile sulfur compounds, or VSC's.

To learn more about how OraMD® works against the causes of gum health, follow the link.