Causes and progression of gum disease

Causes

Development of gum disease is due to the presence of dental plaque that adhered to the tooth surface. If the oral hygiene is poor, dental plaque will accumulate along the gingival margin. The bacteria from the dental plaque release toxins that irritate the periodontal tissues (tissues surrounding a tooth) including the gums, periodontal membrane, jaw bone, etc., leading to development of gum disease


Process

 If dental plaque has accumulated for a period of time, the gingival margin will be inflamed leading to mild gum disease (gingivitis). If the body defense system is not good with impaired healing capacity, the periodontal tissues including the gums, periodontal membrane and jaw bone, etc., will be further damaged and gradually develop severe gum disease (periodontitis).






Gingivitis (mild gum disease)

When the teeth are not cleaned thoroughly, dental plaque accumulates at the gingival margin and interdental surface. The bacteria from the dental plaque secret toxins that irritate the gum, leading to inflammation and formation of gingivitis. The dental plaque can be calcified by the saliva to form calculus. The rough surface of the calculus further traps more dental plaque. The gum continuously inflamed and may even develop severe periodontal disease.







Periodontitis (severe gum disease)
 
When the oral hygiene is persistently poor, the periodontal tissues will be continuously under inflammation and destruction. The gum becomes detached from the root surface, such that a tiny space called periodontal pocket will be formed. Food debris, dental plaque and calculus will accumulate more easily inside the periodontal pocket, leading to more severe destruction of tissues, gradually develop periodontitis. There may be pus exudating from the periodontal pocket and leading to formation of abscess. Eventually the gum and the supporting bone will recede, and the root will be exposed that increase the chance of getting root decay.





When the inflammation and destruction are getting worse, the periodontal tissues like the gum and supporting bone will be badly destroyed and receded. The tooth loses its support and becomes mobile and drifted. Finally it may even come out by itself.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com, www.toothclub.gov.hk/

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

牙周病的成因及過程

成因
 
牙周病是由黏附在牙齒表面的牙菌膜所引起的。如果口腔衛生欠佳，牙菌膜就會長期積聚在牙齦邊緣。牙菌膜裏的細菌會分泌毒素，刺激牙齒周圍的組織，例如牙齦、牙周膜和牙槽骨等，引致牙周病。
 
過程
 
如果牙菌膜積聚，牙齦邊緣會出現發炎徵狀，造成輕微牙周病（即牙齦炎）。若身體抵抗力下降，身體組織癒合能力欠佳，牙周組織包括牙齦、牙周膜和牙槽骨等就會遭受破壞，情況就會惡化，形成嚴重牙周病（即牙周炎）。










牙齦炎〈輕微牙周病〉
 
如果牙齒沒給徹底清潔，牙齦邊緣及牙齒鄰面就長期積聚牙菌膜。牙菌膜內的細菌會分泌毒素刺激牙齦，引致牙齦發炎。牙菌膜亦會被唾液（口水）鈣化，形成牙石。由於牙石的表面十分粗糙，因此導致更多牙菌膜積聚，使牙齦持續發炎，甚至有機會惡化成嚴重的牙周病。

牙周炎〈嚴重牙周病〉

如果仍然沒做好口腔護理，發炎的情況會持續，導致原本緊附於牙根表面的牙齦與牙根分離，形成一個空間，稱為「牙周袋」。這空間更易讓食物殘渣、牙菌膜和牙石堆積，使牙周組織持續受破壞，引致牙周炎。牙齦邊緣可能有膿液滲出，甚至長出牙瘡，牙齦和牙槽骨亦會慢慢萎縮，以致部分牙根外露，增加患牙根蛀壞的機會。

如果牙周炎繼續惡化，牙周組織包括牙齦和牙槽骨會受到嚴重的破壞，以致牙槽骨萎縮，牙齒因而失去支撐，變得鬆動和出現移位，最後甚至脫落。

參考資料: www.bjdental.com, www.toothclub.gov.hk 

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Snoring can be caused by Oral problem!

During sleep, the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax creating a partial or even complete obstruction of the airways. When this occurs, the body’s reflexes attempt to maintain air volume and supply essential quantities of oxygen to the brain. As a result, air velocity increases in the constricted space causing the soft tissues in the throat and mouth to vibrate. Studies have shown that excess body weight, heavy alcohol consumption and other sedatives can increase the severity of snoring.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or more. Sleep Apnea can result in daytime tiredness, reduced mental ability, irritability and irrationality, increased risk of stock. Increased risk of high blood pressure, etc.. Snoring can be an indicator of Sleep Apnea, so that it is recommended to consult with doctors.

An intra oral snoring prevention device that can reduce snoring and reduction of Sleep Apnea, please consult with your dentist for more information.

Reference information: http://www.toothclub.gov.hk , www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Common problems for cleaning baby’s mouth

If my baby does not want to open her mouth, then how can I clean her mouth?
When you put your finger near your baby’s mouth, your baby will slowly open her mouth as she thinks that you are trying to feed her. Try it with patience and you should be able to make your baby open her mouth.



What if my baby bites my finger when I try to clean his mouth?
It is natural for your baby to bite your finger when you try to put your finger into his mouth. Keep wiping his mouth and it will be opened again.



I cannot reach the gums at the back of my baby’s mouth. What should I do?
You can put your finger at the corner of your baby’s mouth and then reach inside along the inside surface of her cheek until you reach the gum at the back of the mouth. At this point insert your finger gently in-between the upper and lower gums (as shown in the picture). Your baby will open her mouth and you can wipe the gums at the back.



When is the best time to wipe my baby’s mouth?
Since new born babies have not established a regular feeding pattern, it is difficult for parents to decide which meal will be their last meal of the day. Parents can then set a fixed time to wipe their baby’s mouth every night.

When your baby grows older (over 6 months old) and has established regular feeding habits, you can wipe your baby’s mouth after the last meal of the day.



I feed my baby and wiped his mouth before putting him to bed. Yet he did not want to go to bed and asked for milk again, what should I do?
The reasons for wiping your child’s mouth after the last meal of the day are to get your child accustomed to cleaning his mouth regularly and going to bed with a clean mouth. Generally, it is only out of habit that children ask for milk before going to bed. Parents can feed them with water, or keep them preoccupied by patting, singing a song or telling a story.



If ulcers (Aphthous Ulcer) are found inside my baby’s mouth, should I stop wiping his mouth?
You should keep wiping your child’s mouth and try to avoid touching the ulcer. If it is not possible, then stop wiping until the ulcer has healed. In general, ulcers will heal within a week’s time.

When the first tooth appears, parents should wipe their children’s mouths and teeth every day.











Reference information: http://www.toothclub.gov.hk, www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Oral care tips: Eating & Drinking

Many people have a misconception that if they can thoroughly brush their teeth, they can avoid having dental caries. In fact, in order to effectively prevent dental caries, we have to start from a good dietary habit.

What kinds of food will lead to Dental Caries?

All food that contains sugar can be metabolized by the barteria in the plaque located on the tooth surfaces to produce acid. The acid will attack enamel of the teeth which will lead to dental caries.

Most of the food and drinks available in the market contain sugar which will increase the risk of getting caries.

Snacking frequency and Dental Caries

As soon as we eat or drink, the bacteria in the plaque will metabolise the sugar and produce acid. The acid will then lead to loss of minerals from the tooth surfaces.

Chances of getting dental caries will be reduced by allowing sufficient time in between meals for the saliva to neutralise the acid and redeposit minerals onto the tooth surfaces.

Consequences of frequent snacking

If one snacks frequently, there will be continuous production of acid and insufficient time for the saliva to neutralize the acid. This will result in persistent acidic environment which favours the development of dental caries.

Therefore, even a small piece of biscuit or a sip of beverage is considered one snack, which will bring one more chance of getting dental caries.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com , www.toothclub.gov.hk

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Oral Trauma

Oral structure or teeth may be damaged due to an accident. There might be slightly loose, dislocated, fractured, or even avulsed (the entire tooth knocked off). Injury of oral tissues or oral structures such as lips, gingivae, oral mucosa, alveolar bone, or even upper or lower jawbones may be resulted. There might not be any apparent damage to the teeth

Bleeding can be stopped by pressing on the injured area and a dentist should be consulted immediately.

What is/are the treatments for tooth trauma?

A.Smoothen the fractured portion and apply topical fluoride on the tooth surface

B.Fill the tooth

C.Artificial Crown

The dentist will remove the decayed, fill the cavity, and cover the tooth with an artificial crown.

D.Endodontic file.

The dental specialist, endodonist will remove the nerve and infected pulp, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. In most cases, the tooth’s natural crown will need to be replaced with an artificial crown.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

永久性假牙 – 安裝程序(下)

傳統程序


依照傳統程序，您將會經歷下列療程：

- 接受局部麻醉

- 牙醫師將會為您裝上牙齒植體

- 牙醫師可能會在您的牙齒植體上安裝一顆臨時性的牙齒，好讓您可以在愈合期間正常進食

如果牙醫師沒有這麼做的話，則您可能必須繼續配戴原本的假牙一段時間

- 只要治療情況許可，牙醫師將會盡快在您的口中取下用來制作固定式新牙成品的印模




引導式程序


依照拴孔程序，您將會經歷下列療程：

- 接受局部麻醉

- 接著，牙醫師會使用手術導具及拴孔手術，為您裝上牙齒植體

- 裝上牙齒植體之後，牙醫師便會為您裝上 (已預先准備好的) 永久性假牙成品

- 大功告成！


傳統程序

當牙醫師判定您的牙床已愈合至一定程度時，您便可以回到牙醫師的診所，讓牙醫師為您完成永久性假牙成品的安裝程序。 牙醫師將會確認您的咬合是否正確，以及您對結果是否感到滿意。











參考資料: http://www.nobelsmile.com.hk/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，

應向牙醫查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。