'Young adults are not safe from gum disease'

A woman listens as a doctor explains gum disease. /Korea Times file

By Bahk Eun-ji

Periodontitis, also generally known as gum disease or periodontal disease, usually begins with bacteria growth in the mouth. If it is not properly treated, the mouth can be end up with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds the teeth.

Gum disease is classified into gingivitis and periodontitis depending on the degree of progression. In the early stages of gingivitis, bacteria builds up in plaque, and causes the gums to become inflamed and to easily bleed during tooth brushing. At this stage, damage to teeth or tissue do not occur, even if the gum is irritated.

Gingivitis can be treated to some extent by just brushing the teeth properly, but in the case of periodontitis in which the inflammation progresses, it is impossible to recover by simple brushing.

However, if gingivitis is not treated, it can develop into periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. The inflammation brings swollen, red and bleeding gums and is the body's defense against certain bacteria that have been allowed to collect on the surface of teeth.

If the bacteria are not removed regularly by brushing, the inflammation spreads below the gum line, destroying the supporting structures of the teeth, which is bone and ligaments, possibly leading to tooth loss.

One of the most common misconceptions about gum disease is that perhaps it does not affect the young people as it is typically associated with aging. However, the onset of periodontal disease can often begin long before people reach retirement age. In many cases, people in their 20s often don't experience any symptoms, and it leads to delay treatment for gum disease.

“The red light on the dental and oral health of young adults and middle-aged people. Proper measures to prevent dental caries of children, periodontal disease of young adults and tooth loss of elderly people are highly needed,” said Kim Chul-soo, a chair of the Korean Association of Dentists (KAD).

According to a report released by the KDA, dental caries have steadily increased among young children under 10, and periodontal disease has also increased among people in their 20s and 50s for the last nine years from 2010. More than 20 million patients were treated for periodontal disease and dental caries during the same period.

In 2018, 5.89 million patients visited hospital for dental caries, accounting for 11.5 percent of the total health insurance coverage. In 2010, there were no significant changes with 5.37 million patients, accounting for 11 percent of the insurance coverage, but those under the age of 10 showed a steady increase. The number of patients under 10 increased by 10 percent to 1.4 million or 32.9 percent in 2018 from 1.09 million or 23.6 percent in 2010.

“When establishing oral health policy, it is necessary to give priority to policies to prevent dental caries for children, periodontal disease for young adults, and tooth loss for older people,” said Min Kyung-ho, a research director of the KDA who was the lead author of the report.

What cause gum disease?

When bacteria in plaque produce toxins meets the body's enzymes fighting infections, start to break down the bone and connective tissue holding teeth in place. The pockets deepen and gum tissue is destroyed. As the disease progresses, teeth can no longer stand firmly so that they become loose and tooth loss occurs.

“Prevention is better than cure. Gum disease and dental caries often start from poor oral hygiene mainly due to poor teeth brushing,” said Kim Mi-sun, a professor and pedodentist at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital.

“For oral health, you have to be careful about choosing the right one among many oral hygiene products,” Kim said.

Patients need to get dental checkup regularly at least once every three months, because doctors apply fluoride to the patients' teeth while the checkup to treat bacterial infections. Using of low concentration of fluoride gargle and brushing teeth with a nutritious cream made from milk can be also effective in preventing tooth decay.