• Latest
Study: Unless Diets Change, Heart Disease Will Increase

Eating Just Isn’t the Same with Dentures

7 years ago
Government and trade unions disagree over deferral request

Government and trade unions disagree over deferral request

49 mins ago
5 Grenadian Artistes at International Soca Monarch Semis

Infrastructure Ministry awaiting “no objection” to commence St Patrick coastal study

2 hours ago
Lawrence Samuel is chairman of Transport Commission

Lawrence Samuel is chairman of Transport Commission

2 hours ago
Political Parties Share Different Views on Grenada’s Rural Economy

Government breaks down real cost of 4% salary increase

14 hours ago
4th Annual Caribbean Water Operators Conference

EOI: Geotechnical Investigations, Testing and Reporting

16 hours ago
No need to panic over shark sightings

No need to panic over shark sightings

17 hours ago
Clarity on State of Emergency, Covid-19 Regulations and curfew

Clarity on State of Emergency, Covid-19 Regulations and curfew

17 hours ago
Wear Your Mask campaign launched

Wear Your Mask campaign launched

18 hours ago

Relocation of Division of Co-operatives

20 hours ago
US Gives Additional Support to Dominica

US Embassy invites videos for Black History Month Secondary School Speech Competition

23 hours ago
Belmont Estate gets Kosher certification

Belmont Estate gets Kosher certification

24 hours ago
GHTA Expresses Concern Over the 2017 Budget

GHTA prepares for first virtual annual general meeting

24 hours ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

Eating Just Isn’t the Same with Dentures

This story was posted 7 years ago
5 December 2013
in Health
3 min. read
Share

The reason dentists encourage us to brush our teeth at least twice a day and ideally after each meal is to remove the buildup of plaque from our teeth.

According to the [US] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, “Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colourless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean.” The organization’s site goes on to say that, “The longer plaque and tartar are on teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums that is called “gingivitis.” In gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen and can bleed easily.” Gingivitis is reversible, however the second stage of gum disease — periodontitis is not.

Dr. Tara Baksh (BDS, BSC) General Dental Practitioner
Dr. Tara Baksh (BDS, BSC) General Dental Practitioner

In periodontitis the gum starts to pull away from the teeth and form small pockets around the tooth. Bacteria in those pockets around the tooth get infected and increasingly new forms of bacteria form that over time cause erosion to the jaw and ligaments that help to hold the teeth in your mouth naturally. Dr. Tara Baksh, a practicing dentist in Grenada, is concerned about the number of patients that come to her office with periodontal disease. This silent disease of the gums can lead to destruction of the bone of the jaw and ultimately tooth loss. It is called silent because the destruction can go on for years without causing pain, until the very end when it is too little, too late. She is concerned that some dentists in Grenada are not recognizing its signs so by the time the patient come to her office the condition is already chronic.

“Periodontitis is something that I am seeing a lot of here [in Grenada] and what does upset me a little bit is that I find it is going undiagnosed for many years. The problem with periodontitis is it is called a silent disease. It’s not one where, you know, you are going to get pain. Yes there are versions of it that happen very, very quickly but most commonly periodontal disease happens over years. You’re talking 5 to 10 years in the making and a lot of people don’t understand that. When they [patients] come to me they have pain and it’s caused by the periodontal disease. By that time it is well advanced and I am talking tooth mobile [shaky/loose] that if I could take out if I wanted to or they have an abscess because the bacteria load is so much — they now have an abscess. And in cases like that there is nothing you can do but extract the tooth; because you can’t keep a tooth in there that’s not supported by bone or anything. So unfortunately in many of the cases that I see, by the time I see them they are advanced and they have to end up losing two, three teeth.”

Cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetic patients are particularly at high risk for developing periodontitis because of their slightly lowered immune system, the body a longer time to fight off infections in the mouth and so the disease festers quickly. However the root cause of gum disease poor dental hygiene. The lack of brushing and flossing often puts a person at great risk for developing gum disease. Although hereditary genetics does play a factor, meaning if an immediate family member has this particular disease it can make you more susceptible to it, however with diligent care you may be able to prevent it.

By Roslyn A. Douglas, MA
Founder of Central Health – Grenada

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: brushdentisthealthhygieneinfectionperiodenalplaque
Next Post
The Alliance Française gets a new director

The Alliance Française gets a new director

Comment on story Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved
Published by Aqua Design Inc.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.