Description: 85% of adult population is affected with gum disease. Gum disease is swelling or soreness of the gums (the soft tissue) around your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. This multiplication of bacteria have toxins that inflame the gums. This results in gingivitis, the earliest and still reversible stage of periodontal disease.
If you do not remove plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth, it can build up and infect not only your gums and teeth but the bone that supports them. If not treated by a dentist, you can lose your teeth due to your body’s response to the bacteria infection.
The signs of gum disease are not always easy to see and can be painless. The earlier gum disease is caught, the easier it is to treat.
To find out if you have gum disease, your dentist or hygienist needs to check your teeth and gums. Since early gum disease can be reversed, it’s important to see your dentist or hygienist if you see any of the following:
• Gums that bleed or are red, puffy or swollen, or sore.
• Gums that have pulled away from your teeth.
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Pus that appears between your teeth and gums
• Constant bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.
Your oral health care provider can tell for sure if you have gum disease. That’s why it’s so important to have regular dental checkups.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of perio disease and can be reversed with gum therapy appointments and good oral home care. All other stages of perio disease cannot be completely cured but controlled and managed. Once bone loss occurs, it cannot be reversed, only maintained. Treating Periodontal Disease is very important to prevent further bone loss and eventually tooth loss.
What the Experts Say
Current research shows some alarming new information about the effects of periodontal disease. Many studies, including several published in the Journal of Periodontology and The Surgeon General, confirm that people with periodontal disease are at a greater risk for other serious illnesses. That’s because infected gums release significantly higher levels of bacteria into the bloodstream that then spread to other organs in the body.
Periodontal bacteria may contribute to:
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular (Heart Disease)
• Stroke
• Lung Infections
• Pre-term and low birth weight babies
• Respiratory diseases
Factors that may put you at an increased rate:
• Family History
• Medications
• Age
• Gender
• Poor dental care
• Family Transmission
• Smoking
• Prior Gum Disease
• Clenching or Grinding
• Stress
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes
• Hormones
• Poor Nutrition
• Other systemic diseases
This disease can affect your overall health in more ways than you probably though possible. As you can see, that’s why it’s so important to diagnose and treat this disease aggressively.
Solution: Patients with periodontal disease require more than just regular cleanings every 6 months. Periodontal therapy is the treatment of choice for gum disease, since routine hygiene visits are only meant to prevent gum disease.