Poor nutrition, junk food cause for rise in periodontal diseases

Chennai:

Poor nutrition and high intake of fast food has resulted in rise in periodontal disease (infections of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth) in India, according to an expert.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 40^th Indian Prosthodontic Society, the patron of the event Prof Dr E G R Solomon said the consumption of less fibrous food is one of the main cause for rise in periodontal disease in India.

He said that the junk food is sticky and don’t massage the gums as the fibrous food does thus putting the gums at risk of contacting the disease.

He said as periodontal begins as an infection, poor nutrition can worsen the condition of the gums. He said the disease in its early stage, called gingivitis, where the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out.

Interestingly, it is where the prosthodontics, the art and science of tooth replacement comes into being. Dentists feel it is the older people who have the highest rates of periodontal disease.

Speaking after the inauguration of 40^th Indian Prosthodontic Society conference and the Biennial Meeting of Asian Academy of Prostodontics, Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah quoting World Health Organisation said that elderly people, who constitute eight per cent of the total global population, suffer from teeth loss.

He said that 65 per cent of the elderly population are without teeth and prosthodontists have to dedicate themselves in dental hygiene and care in reducing the number of elderly people without teeth.

Interestingly, this is the first time India is hosting the Asian chapter of the specialty and the vent had Prof Kiyoshi Koyano, president of Japan Prosthodontic Society at the event.

Prof T V Padmanabhan, conference chairman and president of Indian Prosthodontic Society were also present on the occasion. More than 30 international speakers and 45 national speakers would present clinical and research lectures on the advancements in the subject and speciality.