Gum disease is caused by the bacteria in dental plaque. As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out. In fact, more teeth are lost through periodontal disease than through tooth decay.

In the past several findings have been released to support the notion infections in the mouth can affect other areas of your general health. In people who have gum disease, it is thought that bacteria from the mouth can get into the blood stream and affect the heart, causing a higher risk of heart disease. The same principles affect those with diabetes, as people with the condition are more likely to pick up infections. People with gum disease are also thought to be at a higher risk of strokes, chest infections, and pregnant women are seven times more likely to have a premature baby with a low birth weight.

Some examples of acidic foods:

• Corn
• Meat
• Beans
• Fish
• Fowl
• Most grains
• Coffee
• Plums
• Prunes
• Cranberries
• Distilled water
  

Some fruit teas, wine and various fruits can be highly acidic and therefore potentially damaging to the teeth. This is not to say however that acidic food and drinks should be avoided.

^{Acid wear can make teeth more sensitive to temperatures and also makes your teeth more prone to decay. This article discusses some of the ways to approach protecting yourself from the possibility of getting acid erosion of your teeth and those of your family.}

Whether your gum disease is stopped, slowed, or gets worse depends a great deal on how well you care for your teeth and gums every day, from this point forward.

Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque.  Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean.  Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar.

• Smoking.  Need another reason to quit smoking?  Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.  Additionally, smoking can lower the chances for successful treatment.
• Hormonal changes in girls/women.  These changes can make gums more sensitive and make it easier for gingivitis to develop.
• Diabetes.  People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing infections, including gum disease.
• Medications.  There are hundreds of prescription and over the counter medications that can reduce the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on the mouth.  Without enough saliva, the mouth is vulnerable to infections such as gum disease.  And some medications can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep gums clean.
• Illnesses.  Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their treatments can also negatively affect the health of gums.
• Genetic susceptibility.  Some people are more prone to severe gum disease than others.

Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night, which is called sleep bruxism.

Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. Because you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.

Which would your child rather have — candy or money? Dentists across the country are banking on the answer being money and offering kids dollars for treats as part of the annual Halloween Candy Buy Back program.

Here’s how it works: Participating dentists designate a day after Halloween when they will purchase children’s candy for $1 per pound — hoping to spare kids the excess sugar that harms their teeth.

The dentists will then ship the candy to Operation Gratitude — a nonprofit organization that will send out 60,000 care packages to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009, the organization received and shipped 61 tons of treats.

Dr. Chris Kammer — the Wisconsin dentist who launched the program in 2007 as a way to save children’s teeth while also bringing some cheer to weary troops, explains his motivation: “The idea got me so excited for what this event could be for dentistry. The holiday most dentists would fear — here’s a way we can embrace it,” he told Wisconsin’s WLOX-TV.

Children are encouraged to include notes with their candy, and dentists often donate toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss with the candy care packages.

But isn’t candy just as bad for the troops’ teeth as it is for your kids’? Kammer addresses this oft-asked question on the program’s website: “Soldiers are adults and certainly understand how to keep their mouths healthy by now — children are still learning how to brush, floss and take care of their teeth.”

Dr. Lori Nasif of Fort Lee, N.J., agrees. For the first time, the dentist is hosting a buy-back event at her office from 3 to 5 p.m. on November 1. “This program will allow [kids] to eat sweets in moderation, and they’re reminded that they have to take care of their teeth.” The American Dental Association recommends that both children and adults maintain good oral hygiene by brushing their teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months.

Once Nasif and others buy the candy and send it to Operation Gratitude, the organization will add other items to create complete care packages. And not just dentists take part — schools, churches, restaurants and even individuals are also buying back candy to send overseas.

Bad breath is often found in people with periodontal diseases, including gum abscesses and mouth sores. These diseases are usually attributed to less than admirable oral hygiene, dentures, smoking or teeth restoration, such as bridges.

Brushing, flossing and seeing your dentist regularly may reduce bad breath. Some dental hygienists recommend brushing your tongue, since it traps large amounts of bacteria. Additional protection against the buildup of bacteria in your mouth can be achieved by rinsing with a mouthwash after you finish brushing.

• The patient may choose extraction because the other alternatives are simply too expensive.
• The dentist may decide that the tooth is not repairable, or may be impractical to repair under the circumstances, and extraction is the best of a bunch of bad alternatives. This includes teeth that are decayed below the gum line, or teeth that have lost too much bone due to periodontal disease.
• Removal of the tooth may be a matter of health.  This is the case in the decision to remove impacted wisdom teeth, teeth associated with cysts or tumors, or teeth that would otherwise compromise the patient’s oral health if left in place. 
• Teeth are frequently removed because they are crowded and their removal would create a situation which could be repaired in their absence.  Orthodontists request extractions to give them more room to move teeth around.  Dentists sometimes remove crowded front teeth and replace them with bridges, denture partials or implants.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned – they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars make those teeth more vulnerable to decay by entrapping plaque and debris. In addition, wisdom teeth can be entrapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum. Teeth that remain partially or completely entrapped within the soft tissue and /or the jawbone are termed “impacted.” Wisdom teeth that only partially erupt allows for an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned – they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Ask your dentist about the positioning of your wisdom teeth. He or she may take an xray periodically to evaluate for the presence and alignment of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may also decide to send you to an oral surgeon for further evaluation.

Your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend that your wisdom teeth be extracted even before problems develop. This is done to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few years later. Removal is easier in young people, when the wisdom teeth roots are not yet fully developed and the bone is less dense. In older people, recovery and healing time tend to be longer.