50% of people with gum disease unaware – Dentist

Dr Odunayo Bankole, a dental surgeon at the Agape Dental Hospital, Jericho, Ibadan, has attributed rising cases of gum disease in the society to ignorance. Bankole told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan that half of the people with periodontal (gum) diseases are not aware that they have the challenge. She […]

Dr Odunayo Bankole, a dental surgeon at the Agape Dental Hospital, Jericho, Ibadan, has attributed rising cases of gum disease in the society to ignorance.

Bankole told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan that half of the people with periodontal (gum) diseases are not aware that they have the challenge.

She defined periodontal diseases as infections of the structures around the teeth, which include the gums, ligaments and alveolar bones.

According to her, periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease, which result in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth.

She said that people usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s and that men were more likely to have gum disease than women.

Bankole said that although teenagers rarely have periodontal disease, they can develop gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease.

The dentist said that gum disease, which is the most common of the periodontal diseases, developed when plaque was allowed to build up along and under the gum line.

The dental expert identified bacteria as the main causes of periodontal infections.

“In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces called `pockets’ that become infected.

“If not treated, the bones, gums and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed,’’ she said.