Tooth And Gum Disease Problems
Caused By Bacteria

A great many tooth and gum disease problems can be avoided by simply controlling the anaerobic bacteria population in your mouth. You cannot actually destroy the bacteria permanently as they are always present in your mouth-over 20 different varieties! Plaque, that sticky but invisible film that we find our teeth when we awake each morning, is formed by bacteria. If you do not remove this layer of plaque with proper oral hygiene, it will cause gum disease because it will harden into tartar.

Tartar is important in the prevention of gum disease because it serves as a barrier between saliva and the anaerobic bacteria responsible for periodontal problems. Saliva is rich in oxygen and specialized enzymes that naturally control the harmful bacteria populations in our mouth. However, saliva cannot penetrate behind tartar which is why a teeth cleaning is the best gum disease treatment once this hardened layer is present. If the tartar is not removed, then advanced periodontal gum disease will form when the bacteria and infection spread below the gum line.

There are a number of factors that may cause the anaerobic bacteria population to swell and cause gum disease, including:

• Poor Oral Hygiene
• Smoking
• Poor Diet
• Stress
• Dehydration

Gum disease prevention is simply a joke if you do not practice good oral hygiene. Not only must plaque be removed, but also food particles and other sources of decay. However, the removal of plaque is difficult because it clings to every part of exposed surface on our teeth. Therefore, brushing, flossing, and the use of an all natural mouthwash is recommended when trying to prevent gum disease from starting. However, once periodontal problems arise and spread below the gum line, treating gum disease will not be possible with simple oral hygiene and surgery may well be required.

Smoking not only decreases the rate of salivation within the mouth, it also depletes the body of precious vitamins and minerals that help the immune system function properly. Smoking literally triples the chances of getting periodontal gum disease and it may even slow or completely halt the progress of treatment if the condition does develop.

Our diet also plays a big role in gum disease prevention because every body function is ultimately tied to what we consume. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants is highly recommended as they help eliminate toxins from the body and decrease your odds for needing gum disease treatments later on down the road. Foods that are rich in antioxidants include:

• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Spinach
• Green Algae

Stress can also cause gum disease along with a host of other medical problems. People with high stress levels over extended periods of time will have weak immune systems, tend to sleep less, and ultimately deplete the body. When other factors cannot account for the condition, stress reduction techniques may be recommended as a viable gum disease prevention technique.

Because saliva helps control anaerobic bacteria populations, any activity or substance which induces dehydration should be avoided or at least compensated with increased water intake. Some known activities/substances known to increase odds of tooth and gum disease problems are:

• Drinking Coffee
• Using Dietary Supplements
• Drinking Alcohol
• Excessive Exercise

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 OraMD® and the connection between toothpaste and gum disease, follow the link.