Periodontal disease: beware of tooth loss

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Extract from the article: Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. According to Dr Georges Tokofai, President of the National Order of Dental Surgeons of Togo (ONCDT), Director of the International Dental Centre of Lome (CDIL), peri

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Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. According to Dr Georges Tokofai, President of the National Order of Dental Surgeons of Togo (ONCDT), Director of the International Dental Centre of Lome (CDIL), periodontal disease is such a widespread disease that it represents the first cause of tooth loss.

Silent and irreversible, periodontitis is an infectious pathology characterised by an attack on the periodontium, i.e. the gum and the various structures surrounding the tooth, causing an irreversible destruction of the supporting tissues.

Unlike tooth decay, periodontal disease, which usually occurs in adulthood, is not painful and can progress quietly until the teeth lose their bony support and eventually fall out. « At the neck of the tooth, a thin membrane attaches the tooth to the gum. If effective brushing does not sufficiently remove the bacteria that colonise this groove, they will multiply, encouraging the arrival of other bacteria, and this colonisation will gradually destroy this membrane. Hence the irreversible nature of periodontal disease », explains Dr Georges Tokofai, Dental Surgeon, President of the National Order of Dental Surgeons of Togo (ONCDT) and Director of the International Dental Centre of Lome (CDIL).

These bacteria spontaneously organize themselves into a « biofilm » that forms dental plaque. The only way to break down this resistant biofilm sufficiently is to brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes and to clean the interdental space. The first sign that should alert you is the appearance of bleeding when brushing: this is called gingivitis. This initial gingivitis is still reversible with proper brushing. « Regular brushing of the teeth significantly reduces and even prevents this bacterial adhesion. If this bleeding persists, it is absolutely necessary to see a dentist, who will propose an appropriate treatment. In any case, scaling and polishing every six months will ensure healthy gums and teeth », says Dr Georges Tokofai, Dental Surgeon.

Another warning sign of this disease is a bad smell in the mouth, also called halitosis. But people often consult a dentist too late, when their teeth are moving. Hence the importance of a dental consultation at least once a year to check the condition of the mouth.

According to the President of the National Order of Dental Surgeons of Togo (ONCDT), « the diagnosis of both caries and periodontal disease is based on the clinical and radiographic examination of the teeth and their supporting tissues. They are useful especially in the early detection of tooth diseases, the search for infectious foci of dental origin or the precise measurement of a cavity ». Caries, abscesses or periodontal disease, when the infection warrants it, must be carefully managed to avoid serious complications.

William O.