Gum Disease. The gums and underlying bone is the foundations on which the teeth rest. Gum disease is an infection of these tissues and if allowed to go unchecked, tooth loss can be inevitable.

Gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this stage the condition is reversible with proper oral hygiene. If the disease is allowed to progress to periodontitis irreversible loss of soft tissue and bone may occur, leading to recession of the gums and loosening or loss of teeth. At this stage, deep cleaning of the area by a dental professional and appropriate home oral hygiene are necessary to halt disease progression. A

s the changes are mostly irreversible, early treatment is essential and it is important not to ignore early signs such as bleeding gums

Mouth Ulcers. Many people suffer from recurrent ulcers in the mouth. These can be extremely painful. The most common form is called minor aphthous ulceration (MIAU). Teenagers are most frequently affected, though many experience their first lesions well outside this age range. Usually one to five small ulcers appear (less than 1mm in diameter) on the inside of lips or cheeks, floor of the mouth or tongue. The ulcers tend to be concentrated towards the front of the mouth. Prior to the ulcers appearing, the patient may experience a burning or prickling sensation.

The ulcers are painful, particularly if the tongue is involved and may make speaking and eating difficult. The course of these ulcers varies from a few days to a little over two weeks, but most commonly they last for about 10 days. Some minor trauma such as vigorous toothbrushing or an irregular filling can be precipitating factors.

There is evidence also that abnormalities of the immune system are associated with aphthous ulceration. A more severe form called major aphthous ulceration (MJAU) can affect any part of the oral mucosa including the soft palate, tonsillor area and can extend into the oropharynx. The ulcers are larger than those seen in MIAU and last longer, up to periods of months in some cases.

There are other forms of oral ulceration for example the ulceration may be part of a syndrome involving ulceration of the eyes, genitalia, the nervous systems & joints.

Prevention

Because the cause of these ulcers is not known prevention is difficult. It is important to seek the advice of a dentist who may decide to refer the more severe cases to a specialist in oral medicine for more thorough investigation.

Maintenance of a high level of oral hygiene will reduce the likelihood of secondary infection when ulcers are present; this of course can prove difficult since patients may find toothbrushing too painful. Covering agents, some containing choline salicylate, are also available though they can be difficult to apply. They also may be difficult to keep in place, for example inside the lips and on the tongue due to constant movement.

Use of antiseptics, for example chlorhexdine mouthwash, are reported to be helpful by some patients. Topical steroids can also provide relief. In some females there is complete remission from aphthous ulcers during pregnancy. Hence hormonal therapy has been tried with varied success.

Local anaesthetic lozenges have been used as a last resort to give the patient some relief for example, when eating