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Periodontitis, or chronic periodontal disease, may affect up to 70 percent. Poles. It is the second most common oral cavity disease in our country, next to caries. It is crucial to brush your teeth properly to keep your gums healthy.
The data of the Polish Periodontological Society confirm that the condition of the periodontium of Poles is very bad.
Epidemiological studies conducted in Poland in 2011-2014 showed that the percentage of people with healthy periodontium oscillates between 1,6% in the 35-44 age group and 0,8% in the 65-74 age group. In turn, more than 16% of people are diagnosed with advanced periodontitis – says Monika Stachowicz, dentist from the Periodent Treatment and Prevention Center in Warsaw. – Surprisingly, disturbing data also apply to children and adolescents, as it is estimated that 50% of 7-year-olds and 75% of 12-year-olds already have gum problems – adds the dentist.
Periodontal problems are not enough
Periodontitis is also one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. It can disrupt the chewing function or cause the jaw bones to atrophy. Gum disease can also be a risk factor for general diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes and premature birth in pregnant women.
Research increasingly recognizes the relationship between the condition of the gums and certain types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or disease. Alzheimer’s. There is a reason why periodontitis is called a silent killer. Luckily, just right prevention can effectively prevent the development of this ailment.
Where does periodontitis come from?
Main reason periodontal diseasethat attack the gums and the tissues surrounding the tooth are bacteria and poor oral hygiene.
It begins with seemingly innocent, with the plaque that constantly forms on the surface of the teeth. Under normal conditions, this sticky and colorless biofilm can be easily removed by brushing your teeth. However, if the plaque is not removed regularly, it mineralizes and hardens, i.e. tartar. It takes several dozen hours for this to arise – explains Monika Stachowicz.
Unfortunately, we can no longer remove tartar with a toothbrush. When it settles along the gum line, bacteria start to multiply in it and release harmful by-products that irritate the tissues and trigger the body’s natural inflammatory response.
This should worry you
The symptoms of gingivitis are often ignored by patients. – These are reddening and bleeding of the gums, the so-called symptom of a pink toothbrush, their swelling, tenderness and hypersensitivity of the teeth. Gingivitis is completely reversible if we respond appropriately. Otherwise, a relatively mild infection can develop into periodontitis, the dentist observes.
Tartar, which is not regularly removed in a dentist’s office during a professional hygienisation treatment, begins to compress the gums, causing them to recede and develop the so-called gingival pockets. As a consequence, there may also be an unpleasant odor from the mouth. A visit to the dentist is necessary at this stage.
If the inflammatory process is not stopped in time, the bacteria begin to penetrate the pockets and explore e.g. exposed tooth roots. The infection spreads deeper and deeper into tissues, e.g. the bone in which the tooth is embedded, which may result in its mobility or even loss. This is how periodontitis develops – explains dentist Monika Stachowicz.
How to protect yourself from this?
The basis is everyday brushing teeth i plaque removaland in the case of tartar formation, its removal by scaling and sandblasting at the dentist. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how brush your teeth correctly, take care of the gums and what tools to use. The choice of a toothbrush and the appropriate brushing technique are key.
Many Poles use the so-called a circular brushing technique that is suitable but for… children. It is mainly the wrong brushing technique that is responsible for the development of tartar. The sweeping technique is appropriate, in which we place the brush against the line of contact between the gums and teeth at an angle of 45 degrees. Then the so-called with a sweeping motion, we move the bristles from the gums down. We should do at least 10 repetitions with each tooth – says Monika Stachowicz.
It can be difficult to implement these recommendations yourself without the right tool. The Philips Sonicare sonic toothbrush performs up to 62 brushing movements per minute. Just hold her at a 45-degree angle – and she’ll do the rest, caring for your gums and teeth at the same time.
Clinical studies have confirmed that Philips Sonicare removes up to 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush and guarantees up to 7 times healthier gums after just two weeks of regular use. It is also the only sonic toothbrush approved by the Polish Dental Society.
Brushing your teeth is a seemingly easy task
The problem that dentists talk about is also too short and inaccurate brushing of the teeth, e.g. omitting the spaces between the teeth. We can clean such places with a dental floss or a dental irrigator. The Philips Sonicare toothbrush also efficiently reaches the interdental spaces, thanks to its cleaning technology, which gives the mixture of liquid (paste and saliva) a high velocity, forcing the microbubbles deep between the teeth and along the gum line.
In turn, when trying to extend the time of brushing your teeth and improve your brushing technique, it is worth considering a toothbrush with a timer function and a pressure sensor. The first one will measure out two minutes recommended by dentistsand the other will let you know when the pressure of the brush on the teeth and gums will be too strong. Such functions are available in modern sonic toothbrushes.
Everything in your hands
In just a few hours, the plaque that has not been removed while brushing the teeth begins to transform into tartar, which is the main cause of periodontitis. It is necessary at this stage a visit to the dentistThat is why it is so important to take care of gum health at home – using the available prophylaxis.
It may turn out to be an effective solution sonic toothbrush, but before that, it is worth making sure that the results promised by the manufacturer are confirmed by clinical studies, and the same the toothbrush is trusted by institutions from the world of dentistry.