Ryder: When you consider what is periodontal disease or what is
gingivitis, which is part of what we call the big umbrella or
periodontal disease, most of these diseases involve, first of
all, a biofilm infection. By that, I mean that plaque that you
always hear about, that hardens into calculus, consists of
bacteria hundreds of thousands of cells thick that lie on the
tooth's surface. Narrator: Another part of periodontal disease
is inflammation, which is essentially the host's response to
bacteria. This can affect other parts of the body. Ryder: So, if
there was maybe a piece of advice besides brush, floss and visit
your dentist, it would be things such as, if you smoke, stop
smoking; if you drink excessive alcohol, cut down on that; if
you use chewing tobacco or snuff, that can wreak some havoc in
the mouth, too. Narrator: For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.