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  Visual: Stages of Periodontal Disease If you want to know just what is considered good and bad states of oral health and how you measure up, this might be a good place to start...  Video: How Bacteria Communicate Fascinating and very entertaining video lecture by Bonnie Bassler, molecular biologist. Simple, Easy Techniques to keep you out of the dental office. December, 2009  Don't fight City Hall...  ...when you can BE City Hall!   
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 Inflammationby Dr. Ken Southward Recent research is revealing the
connection of many
diseases, including both gum disease and tooth decay, are related
through the inflammatory process. Dentists always thought it was the
bacteria breaking our teeth
and gums down, now we are learning that the body's own immune system is
the cause. This links oral diseases to cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, some cancers and many others.
Inflammation
is our body's normal defensive reaction to an irritant or stressor
causing oxidative stress. Oral bacteria are an example. When the stress
reaction or irritation they create is just on the surface, it is called
gingivitis. When damage goes deeper to affect the bone and tooth
support, it is called periodontal disease.
Why is it there? The
bacteria or plaque along the gumline irritate the gums and cause free
radicals and oxidation. The body uses antioxidants to combat this
insult. Alternately, better oral hygiene would reduce the bacteria and
oxidation factors. One of the most potent defensive mechanisms that our
body's defense cells have is the production of free radicals. This
kills the bacteria, but creates even more inflammation if the
antioxidants are not there to control the fire.
It is becoming common knowledge that uncontrolled, chronic inflammation is the cause of a lot of other degenerative diseases as well. These range from cardiovascular disease to diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease, some cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and more. One could say that there is only one disease - free radical disease - with many different symptoms throughout the body. These symptoms will appear in our genetically weak areas.  On the public awareness side, magazines
like Time have dedicated cover stories to "Inflammation - The Secret Killer". On the treatment side, pharmaceutical
companies are also focusing on inflammation with the idea of developing
drugs to curb its destructive potential. On the prevention side,
leading nutritional manufacturers are discovering new and more potent
antioxidants to help the body balance the forces of
oxidation/anti-oxidation to avoid oxidative stress and the resulting
inflammation.Things are changing quickly in health care today with regard to our understanding and options for a healthier future. One thing remains constant. Our health is still our own responsibility. The prevention of inflammation, to a large degree, is within our control. When or will we begin to accept more responsibility for it is the big question?
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