Section 4-4. Alveolar pyorrhea is a signal symptom of “Hazo disease”

Alveolar pyorrhea is one of the major causes resulting in losing our teeth. Among the readers of this book, some one perceives loose teeth, bleeding from gum-ridge and a twinge in teeth. In fact, “Hazo diseases” are significantly involved in aggravation of alveolar pyorrhea. If there is any distortion in our occlusion, colossal force is centered on a specific tooth upon biting or unexpected force is loaded on teeth continuously, evolving into providing damages to teeth. These conditions are technically called as “Early contact” and “Colossal trauma” which have been known as aggravating factors for alveolar pyorrhea. Incidentally, if “Hazo diseases” occur, the patients cannot bite foods firmly leading to preference of soft foods; as the results, defense functions and self-cleaning functions surrounding teeth are reduced and preventive effects against bacterial infection are weakened, thereby stimulating aggravation. Furthermore, “Hazo diseases” decrease systemic functions, together with reduction of both natural healing ability and immunological functions in local areas in oral cavity. In addition, curing ability of diseases and prevention against advance of diseases are also decreased. Particularly, since mouth is an inlet to incorporate foods as foreign substances from outside, mouth is the most important part indispensable for maintaining our lives. Accordingly, within mouth there are various antibacterial and anti-viral substances including lysozyme, lactopherin, peroxidase, mucin and immunoglobulin A to protect the surface of mucous membrane and teeth. It is reported that peroxidase enzyme also exerts intoxication effects of carcinogenic agents such as aflatoxin. On the edge between teeth and gums, there is a special defense apparatus. The boundary area between teeth and gums is susceptible to diseases. When physical resistance is weakened or local problems occur, alveolar pyorrhea manifests therein. The boundary area is composed of halfdesmosome, a kind of hard adhesive material; furthermore, the production speed of the surrounding cells is faster than those in other areas. In addition, leukocytes known as policemen in our bodies are excreted from surface of mucous membrane to oral cavity (Degranulation of leukocytes) and disintegrate themselves to release their own antibacterial agents which play a role in prevention of bacterial infections. There are many complicated defense apparatuses but in any events, mouth is the front line to perform defense against infection of our bodies; therefore, weakening of these functions is associated with onset of abnormalities in our mouth like stomatitis accompanied by dysfunction of stomach. Subsequently, susceptibility to catching a common cold is also such an indicative phenomenon. Under such consideration, it is more appropriate for us to consider that alveolar pyorrhea is one of manifestations of “Hazo diseases” and a warning sign representing an important harbinger. According to the previous dental medicine, alveolar pyorrhea would not be recognized in such a way but this disease is considered to be an unfavorable disease, followed by local treatment, surgical operations or emphasizing importance of plaque control by means of tooth brushing. However, onset of alveolar pyorrhea can be designated as a useful message conducive to prophylaxis of cancer and infections, as well as prevention of them. Among elderly patients, some of them have healthy teeth despite of being affected by alveolar pyorrhea although they do not perform thorough tooth brushing. In these cases, presence of systemic “Hazo” functions is involved though it cannot be detected by oral cavity inspection. Salivary secretion and inherent prophylactic functions against infections are adequate in the following elderly persons who have enough teeth including back teeth, satisfactory and well-balanced occlusion, and can enjoy tastes of various solid foods by thorough chewing. As the natural consequence, these persons have stout bodies to reject infection with causative bacteria of alveolar pyorrhea. It is anticipated that they are resistant to morbidity of cancer. The patients with loose teeth or with concern about alveolar pyorrhea are recommended to receive radical treatment in parallel with systemic promotion of health based on suspect of “Hazo diseases” rather than complaining of unsatisfactory tooth brushing.