What Makes Teeth Fall Off

My paternal grandmother, since I was old enough to know her, did not have a single tooth in her mouth. I grew up believing that was the norm. I waited patiently for my better educated second grandma to lose all of her teeth as she grew older but to my annoyance she died at the ripe age of 83 with her full complement of teeth! It got my little mind confused. It took me many years, not until i got to the dental school to be precise, before the confusion of almost two decades was solved with one word: Periodontitis! Periodontitis (peri-odon-ti-tis) Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the gum and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis, if left unchecked, will either cause tooth loss or worse, an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. Periodontitis is the main reason why most old people lose their teeth at the later stages of their life. Periodontitis is common but largely preventable. Periodontitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene and neglect. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly reduce your chances of periodontitis. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink in colour. If your gums are puffy, dusky red and bleed easily, or show other signs or symptoms of periodontitis, see your dentist immediately. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing damage from periodontitis and potentially preventing other serious health problems. Periodontitis can even be diagnosed at home. These are the signs to look out for: Swollen gums Bright red or purplish gums Gums that feel tender when touched Pus discharge between teeth and mouth Unexplained teeth movement Elongated teeth as a result of gum recession New spaces developing between your teeth Bad breath Shaking teeth Bad taste in your mouth Bleeding gums while brushing There are different types or classes of periodontitis with the most common one being chronic periodontitis. It affects mostly adults, though children can also be affected. Aggressive periodontitis (another type) usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and affects only a small number of people. How does periodontitis start? Studies show that periodontitis begins with plaque formation. Plaque, simply put, is a sticky film on the teeth, which is composed mainly of bacteria (germs). It is adherent on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Brushing and flossing your teeth will remove plaque. But plaque re-forms quickly, usually within 24 hours which is the reason why it is advisable to brush twice daily. When plaque stays on your teeth longer than two to three days it will harden on your teeth and under the gums into what is called calculus or tartar. Calculus also may form because of the action of the mineral content of your saliva. It is believed that the calcium in the saliva causes plaque to harden into calculus. Calculus makes plaque more difficult to remove and acts as a reservoir for bacteria. You cannot get rid of tartar by brushing and flossing, you need professional dental scaling and polishing to remove it. The longer that plaque and calculus remain on your teeth, the more damage they can do. Initially, they may simply irritate and cause inflammation of the gums causing gingivitis. Unchecked and ongoing gingivitis eventually causes pockets to develop between the gums and teeth that fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria. Bacteria release harmful toxins, which are byproducts of their own metabolism. These toxins are responsible for much of the inflammation around teeth. The body will recognise a bacteria invasion and mobilise active defence. In the process of attacking the bacteria, they inadvertently also attack the gums and the bone support of the tooth leading to bone and gum loss. As the cycle is repeated numerous times, the pockets become deeper and more bacteria accumulate, eventually advancing under your gum tissue. When too much bone is lost, the tooth starts to shake and it eventually falls off. The mystery surrounding my grandmother’s tooth loss is eventually solved! NB: This article was written by Dr. Femi Awe, Dental Practitioner (Summit Dental Clinic) in Abuja, Nigeria.