Emphasis was placed mainly on the importance of paying extra attention to one’s dental routine with patients suffering from gum disease being advised to regularly screen for other health diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, problems of conception or pregnancy as well as osteoporosis are some of the illnesses linked to having an unhealthy mouth.
Fifty seven-year-old retired Principal Mandla Hadebe says he has been suffering from bleeding teeth, every time he brushes his teeth in the mornings and evenings, for months and that he has picked up that spaces have appeared between his teeth although he did not know what the cause was.
“I immediately went to my dentist to find out why my teeth had started bleeding after every wash and he explained bleeding and the newly developed spaces were a result of gum disease. The antibiotics and mouth wash prescribed did wonders to help stop the problem but I still experience some bleeding every now and again,” explained Mr Hadebe.
Symptoms of gum disease include, according to GEMS medical aid: Receding gums, new spaces appearing between your teeth, smelly breath, swollen red gums that feel tender to the touch and tooth loss.
It is reported that gum infection ranks high on the list of common health problems that affect the mouth and at least 90 percent of South Africans experiencing gum disease issues at some point in their lives. In 2012 an alarming 41 percent of women and 31 percent of men in the country were reported to be suffering from severe gum disease.
“Did you know diabetes can help contribute to dental health issues? If you are an adult with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and your blood sugar control is sometimes not as good as your doctor wants it to be, you could be at greater risk for developing oral health problems. One of these potential threats includes a serious type of gum infection called periodontal disease that can lead to loss of teeth. Diabetes may lower your ability to fight the germs that cause periodontal disease, also known as gum disease,” stated Oral B Dental experts.
Oral B named many reasons for bleeding gums and that sometimes bleeding could be caused by an individual’s use of blood thinners which are designed to prevent blood clots.
Dentists from all over the world attended the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in South Africa on August 14, where the theme was a vital link in achieving total health.
