Dr. Jagdish Rohira

Gum diseases can be treated and reversed in their initial stages very easily. By getting the accumulated tartar and plaque removed by a dentist.

Brush at least twice a day. The best time to brush teeth is after meals. Choose a toothbrush with a small head for better access to back teeth. Soft bristles are kinder on your gums.
 

1. Use fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride helps to harden tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay.
2. Brush thoroughly. Tooth brushing should take between two and three minutes.
3. Floss your teeth daily. Use a slow and gentle sawing motion.
4. Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries). In severe cases, teeth may be 'eaten' right down to the gum.
5. Limit sugary foods. Bacteria in dental plaque change sugars into acids.
6. Protect your teeth from injury. Wear a mouthguard or full-face helmet when playing sports.
7. Try to save a knocked out tooth. If possible, hold the tooth back in place while you seek immediate dental advice. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in milk and seek dental advice immediately.
8. Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food. If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.
9. See your dentist for regular check-ups. You should also visit your dentist if you have a dental problem such as a toothache or bleeding gums.

Keeping your brush at a 45 degree angle while brushing so that the bristles do not hurt your gums.

A quite serious bacterial infection, diphtheria is caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheria. It usually tends to affect the throat and the mouth of an affected person, although there are other varieties which can infect your skin as well. However, the most common cases of diphtheria affect the throat and the mouth. 

Symptoms of diphtheria in general
It may take up to five days for symptoms to show up when you are infected with the disease. Some of the symptoms would be:

1. You neck would swell up due to swelling in the lymph nodes, especially in the neck
2. Your throat and tonsils will develop a thick grayish membrane 
3. Your throat may become sore and hoarse
4. You may face difficulty in breathing, depending on the size of the membrane and the resultant inflammation
5. You may have difficulty swallowing as well

These are the primary symptoms which will affect your throat in general. Some of the other symptoms that may show up are:

1. Fever
2. Nasal discharge
3. Malaise or a general feeling of discomfort 
4. Chills

The parts of your body, which are affected the most tend to be your throat, tongue and the neck. The pain tends to persist for quite some time as you recover.

Causes of diphtheria 
Diphtheria is usually spread by the following methods

1. Airborne droplets: This is possibly the most common method of contracting the disease. This usually happens when a person is infected with diphtheria coughs or sneezes around you. The airborne droplets then travel from one person to another, transmitting the infection. This is particularly the case in crowded area such as public transport and public spaces.
2. Touching personal items which may be infected: Touching used towels, paper tissues or drinking from an unwashed glass may cause an infection as well. These tend to happen mostly in an indoor setting such as offices and houses. Even toys, door and equipment handles can cause transmission of this virus. 

If you are showing any of these symptoms, it is prudent to consult a doctor immediately as diphtheria, if left untreated, may also result in serious complications.