Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a serious issue for anyone unfortunate enough to develop this condition.
However, smart technology is making its way into toothbrushes and is helping greatly with improving our oral health.
We all grew up brushing our teeth with a plastic stick and some bristles attached to the end.
But today, we find intelligent toothbrush systems, in the form of “Smart series” electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors, specialised brushing modes for gums, and even Bluetooth connectivity.
Oral B, has created a smartphone app that connects your electric toothbrush with your smartphone, allowing you to accurately track brushing zones with position detection, choose specialised brushing modes with a timer, and progress tracking over time.
It’s like having a professional dentist with you as your brush, optimising your brushing routine for a reduction on cavities and gum disease.
Most of us might assume that cavities are the number one cause of cause of tooth loss. Although cavities may be more common among both children and adults, studies show that gum disease actually is the primary cause for people losing their teeth.
The ADA (American Dental Association) has reported that gum disease causes over 200 percent more dental problems for people than cavities. Not only that, but it is also important to note that gum disease is also related to other health issues like osteoporosis, respiratory disease, heart failure, stroke, and diabetes, etc. Therefore, this condition should not be taken lightly.
The majority of the population tends to assume that gum disease can only occur as a result of poor dental hygiene. However, the truth is that gum disease is proven to be heavily genetic as well.
People who have a long history of gum disease in their family are five times more likely to experience the same situation, despite practicing even above average dental hygiene habits like brushing, flossing or regular visits to the dentist.
What is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease – or Gum disease as it’s more commonly know – is an infection or inflammation of the gums caused from bacteria and comes in two major forms.
These are known as gingivitis and periodontitis.
They are not really different conditions but rather different stages the same condition. Gingivitis is the first stage. This can then evolve into periodontitis which is more severe.
Many people can have gingivitis without even being aware of it and if left untreated can take the form of periodontitis which is harder and, and costly to treat, which further stresses the importance of regular visits to the dentist.
How is Gum Disease Treated?
In some cases, dentists will use antibiotic treatment to heal the infection. If the patients teeth fall out due to advanced progression of the disease, tooth implants will be used to replace them which are hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
How Can I Tell if I Have Gum Disease?
In some cases, there are no warning signs, which can make the condition difficult to detect for the patient. However, there are things to look out for which can be a clear sign of a problem.
You might notice that there is a gap or space forming between your gums and your teeth. If there is more blood flowing from your gums than seems normal or if your gums are bleeding more easily than before from brushing or flossing, this could also be a definite sign.
New pains in your teeth which make you feel like your teeth are not fitting properly in your gums is also something to look out for. Even constant bad breath is also a possible warning sign.
If you are a regular user of tobacco in any form, this makes you more susceptible to gum disease. There are also medications and drugs like steroids, birth control and cancer medicines that can lead to it. Studies also show that people with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease.
What Serious Effects Can Periodontal Disease Have?
There is a large body of work that shows connections between periodontal disease and respiratory infections, and secondary bacterial infections in remote locations in the body.
Organ damage and other finely tuned body processes can be adversely affected by bacterial infections beginning in the gumline, around the teeth, which if untreated, can cause serious health issues and can lead to pregnancy issues and death. Please be mindful of your brushing and flossing habits and if you know you have a problem, or you suspect one, speak to an orthodontist.
How Electric Toothbrush Tech Can Help
Since build-up of plaque is the major cause of gum disease, using an electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Genius 9000 is an effective with to treat and prevent the condition.
These high-end electric toothbrushes are proven to remove 100% more plaque than a manual brush and come recommended by professional dentists are organisations like the British Dental Health Foundation.
Plaque is not something that is easy to remove with over-the- counter products. Only a dentist with special tools or regular use of a top electric toothbrush will thoroughly remove the bacterial film.
If you want to prevent gum disease, you should visit your dentist for professional cleanings on a regular basis, and adopt a great brushing routine with the help of a “Smart” electric toothbrush and dental App.
Some of today’s Braun and Philips best electric toothbrushes can dramatically reduce plaque build-up over manual brushing. In fact, Picki Reviews and the British Dental Health Foundation regard leading electric toothbrush brands as a superior option for improving overall oral health.
Failing to keep up a good brushing routine with the right products could lead to gum disease, and the treatments thereafter can be hash.
Regeneration Through Tissue Guiding
This is another process meant to prevent gum disease but can also be used as treatment. The purpose of this procedure is to make sure that tissue is not growing in the wrong areas.
The most common issue among patients in this case is when tissue grows in spots meant for bone growth and vice versa. The dentist will place a piece of mesh material between the tissue of the gum and the bone which will guide each to grow in the right direction respectively.
Root Planing and Scaling
In this procedure the tarter and plaque which has accumulated beneath the gum line are scraped off with special tools.
That is the scaling portion of the process. The planning portion is when any uneven or jagged parts on the tooth’s root are smoothed out with a special file tool. This comes after the scaling. This procedure will always require the patient to be put to sleep.
Bone Surgery
When gum disease reaches the stage of periodontitis, the bone of gums will start to decay, and craters start to form. Surgery can then be performed which will make the craters smoother making it a lot harder for harmful bacteria to accumulate inside the bone.
Bone Grafts
In extreme cases when gum disease has completely killed the bone, it is possible for dentists to do a bone graft to which will then restore the teeth.
This means that part of another bone in your body will be used to replace the one that has been destroyed by gum disease.
Any tissue that has been killed can also be replaced by a tissue graft. In this case, the tissue used to replace the dead tissue will usually be taken from the roof of the patient’s mouth but in can vary.
All of the above can harsh and can be prevented with “Smart” electric toothbrush technology and intelligent dental brushing Apps.
