Healthy gums and teeth

The two most important dental illnesses are well known, but most people do not really care about them: Gum bleeding and caries.

While caries gives us at the least the inconvenience of uncomfortable visits to the dentists in order to repair damage to our teeth, gum bleeding normally does not even cause pain. So we are very likely to ignore the alarming "red colour" on our toothbrush or on the apple we bite into.

Gum bleeding is an important first sign of the disease Gingivitis or gum inflammation. But as it is not painful, it is often not taken as seriously as it should be.

Gum diseases are as common as dental caries. Dentists estimate that over 90 per cent of the population suffers from inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Gingivitis is a bacterial infection of soft tissues, bone, and other oral places. The bacteria deposit sticky film (plaque) on the surface of the teeth and along the edges of the gums where acidic toxins are secreted and irritate the gum. Plaque bacteria subsist mainly on sugar. The complex defence mechanism of the gums against the bacteria leads to a local inflammation where the gums swell, become painful, look reddened and bleed slightly. It is also possible that the breath begins to take on an unpleasant odour. The gums, which were once strong and pink, begin to recede and take on a beefy red, inflamed colour.

Reducing and keeping under control plaque bacteria is possible by regular brushing (teeth and tongue), regular flossing and professional plaque removal.

If ignored...

If irritated gums remain untreated, the inflammation spreads out deep along the teeth including the gums, soft tissues, and bone and will degenerate into periodontitis – a severe case of gingivitis. In a periodontitis, the severe bacteria infection erodes the jawbone, which holds the teeth in place. With time, the teeth are loosened and the affected teeth may eventually fall out or need to be pulled out. Periodontitis usually does not cause pain until the teeth loosen enough to move while eating or until an abscess (a collection of pus) forms.

Alarmingly, long-term periodontal disease may cause even more serious general health problems, including higher blood sugar levels and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Also, research has shown that pregnant women with periodontitis are much more likely to give birth to premature babies than women with healthy gums are.

Go on cleaning, if it is bleeding?

Gum problems can be counteracted with a comprehensive oral hygiene. Even if gums are already bleeding, it is absolutely necessary to go on cleaning softly. If the inflamed gums are spared and cleaned less, a vicious circle starts!

Teeth cleaning when experiencing weak and bleeding gums must be done with a very soft toothbrush. The best solution is a toothbrush with microfine bristles. Using such a brush allows one to avoid further harm to the gums while still being able to brush the teeth thoroughly.

Daily cleaning of interdental spaces with products like interdental brushes, dental sticks or dental floss is a very important procedure in the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis. It is precisely in the interdental spaces and at the edges of the gums that plaque bacteria remain unreached by the toothbrush.

A suitable toothbrush

A toothbrush with microfine bristles is not only good in case of gum inflammation, but for daily care in order to prevent any inflammation or tooth decay. The microfine bristles are so flexible that they touch every tooth surface and reach the finest depressions, thereby guaranteeing good cleaning performance. Scientists in Japan and Europe have conducted studies to show that the cleaning effect of the new microfine bristles is even higher than the one of ordinary toothbrushes.