CAUSES OF OSTEOPOROSIS: CARE OF YOUR TEETH
Periodontal disease can be either an indication of poor oral hygiene or a warning that underlying bone is becoming porous. It is often called gingivitis in its earlier stages, then periodontal disease as the condition advances, when tooth and bone loss may occur. The 1978 Adult Dental Health Survey reported that 91 per cent of adults with their own teeth suffer in varying degrees with this disease of the gums and tooth-supporting tissues – conditions that can result in the loss of underlying alveolar bone containing the tooth sockets.
Mature teeth in an adult do not significantly change their structure or calcification with altered intakes of calcium or a change in calcium metabolism. Periodontal tissues, on the other hand, do have an active interchange of available nutrients similar to bone and soft tissues in other parts of the body. Dental researchers have concluded that insufficient calcium may contribute to the loss of alveolar bone and tooth-supporting tissues; there is also a strong connection between periodontal disease and the accumulation of plaque, the sticky semi-transparent material containing food debris, bacteria and toxins that irritate and destroy gum tissue and surrounding bone. Diseased or infected gums are often the cause of bad breath.
So there are two key points: (1) make sure you have adequate daily calcium in your food and (2) maintain good dental hygiene.
If plaque is not brushed off your teeth every day, it hardens into calculus (tartar) which can only be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist. Build-up of plaque and calculus can lead to gum disease, which if untreated can create pockets of infection. Eventually the structures that support the teeth are destroyed, the bony sockets around the roots of teeth begin to demineralize or resorb, and as the bone is lost, the teeth become loose and fall out. Good dental hygiene is the key to prevention of gum disease, with a programme of regular visits to your dentist.
Adults and teenagers should use fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes to help ward off dental decay and prevent gum disease. Some British toothpastes also have calcium in their formula to aid dental repair. It’s vital to brush your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush and floss daily to remove plaque the brush cannot reach. Fluoride in toothpaste works on the surface of teeth in two ways:
It stops the reproduction of Streptococcus mutans, the most powerful of many acid-making bacteria in your mouth. This bacterium feeds on the sugars and starches in your mouth and turns them into enamel-burning acid. Streptococcus mutans also is responsible for creating plaque, the gummy stuff that sticks to teeth to make a breeding spot for more bacteria; and
Fluoride allows the acid-scarred surface of teeth to heal. When fluoride is present in your mouth, calcium and phosphorus from saliva fill in the microscopic pits made by acid. Without fluoride, the pits get wider and deeper, and bacteria can penetrate further into the tooth enamel.
Cut down on sugar (all types: table sugar, fructose, maltose, glucose), sticky foods (like caramels, raisins, dates and soft drinks sweetened with sugar) and smoking. If you have mild periodontal disease, talk with your dentist about increasing your daily intake of calcium and vitamin C.
To maintain firm gums, healthy underlying bone and strong jaw muscles, give them sufficient exercise every day: let them go to work on crisp, crunchy fresh fruits and vegetables that need plenty of biting and chewing.
If you are already wearing dentures, make sure they are fitted properly and firmly – uniformly against the gums without uneven pressure on underlying bone. Brush your gums, ridges and palate with a soft brush to stimulate circulation, remove debris, and harden the tissue surface so that your dentures are most comfortable to wear.
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Posted in Healthy bones Osteoporosis RheumaticTags: Healthy bones
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