The part of the gum that comes into contact with the tooth forms a crevice within which food debris can accumulate and bacteria can breed. In healthy gums this crevice (also known as a sulcus) will be no more than three millimetres deep, a depth that can be easily cleansed using good oral hygiene practices.
When this depth exceeds three millimetres it becomes increasingly difficult to disperse food particles and thus bacterial microbes can flourish. If not treated, this can cause the vulnerable tissue to deteriorate and fibres attaching the tooth to the gum can even be destroyed. The result is an even deeper crevice, or pocket.
A Gingival pocket occurs when the depth of the sulcus has moved toward the root of the tooth, but has not yet destroyed the connective tissue fibres connecting the tooth to the gum. Gingival pockets are reversible if the sufferer adopts a stricter and more thorough oral hygiene routine.
When the depth is at such a point that the connective fibres have been irreversibly destroyed, this is known as a Periodontal pocket. If bleeding is occurring regularly without any apparent reason, this is a strong indicator that a Gingival pocket has progressed to the more serious Periodontal pocket. If you taste blood in your mouth at any time, particularly after waking, arrange to see a dentist immediately!
To rectify a periodontal pocket, surgery may be necessary in the form of a gingival graft. Tissue may be removed from the palate and stitched into place at the affected site, or a flap of adjacent gum may be cut and repositioned.
To prevent the situation from deteriorating this far, all that is needed is thorough oral hygiene carried out on a regular basis, i.e. twice a day, after eating if possible. Your routine should include brushing for a minimum of two minutes, gentle flossing, tongue cleaning, and the use of mouthwash.
The most efficient toothbrushes to use are sonic ones, as they have much higher brush strokes per minute than standard electric toothbrushes.
Dark Fire by C J Sansom
Dark Fire is the second title in the Shardlake series of novels by author C J Sansom, following on from the best-selling Dissolution. The eminently likeable Matthew Shardlake returns in his role of lawyer and detective a few years after the events of Dissolution.
Dissolution by C J Sansom - A Review
Dissolution is the first in a highly successful series of novels by author C J Sansom, centring on the life of hunch-backed lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. It is an historical crime thriller which is superbly written and captures the attention from start to finish, expertly interweaving the politics of the period with a gripping murder mystery.
