Gum Disease

Gum Disease...Now what? 

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Do you have chronic bad breath that doesn’t get better with improved hygiene or a change in diet? You may not realize it, but these can be signs of a serious health concern.  By ignoring these symptoms of a serious infection in your mouth you are playing Russian Roulette with your teeth and your overall health.  And, according to very recent scientific research, it seems plausible (even likely) that lifespan may be negatively affected.

If you have the above oral symptoms it is likely that you have some form of gum disease - as do greater than 70% of all adults.  The 2 most common, scientific names for gum disease are Gingivitis and Periodontitis.  They represent stages of gum disease.  That is ... Gingivitis is early and affects gums only; while Periodontitis is more advanced and affects the underlying (supportive) bone around the teeth.  Both start as a bacterial infection in the gums (and later the surrounding tissues) and are also affected by your body's "sensitivity".  In other words, gum disease is similar to allergies - some people are majorly affected; some minor; while others (those lucky ones) remain unaffected.

If gum disease is left untreated the prognosis is not good.  Infections in the mouth that are not treated will travel throughout the bloodstream and into other body systems. Untreated gum disease can tax your immune and cardiovascular systems causing major health problems, and in severe cases death.  However, this is not the only problem with untreated gum disease.  Untreated gum disease also causes tooth loss.  The infection in the gums will spread to the underlying bone and eventually lead to unnecessary gum recession and bone loss which leaves little support for remaining teeth and causes loose, unstable teeth, and tooth loss. 

X-ray showing significant bone loss caused by periodontal disease. 

Here’s the good news! Is it is treatable.  It is thought that over 75% percent of the  adult population has some form of gum disease. It is often under treated, because for many people it is painless.  And without regular dental exams would go largely unnoticed by a vast majority of the US population.   

Symptoms of gum disease include:

·        Bleeding gums  

·        Tender gums

·        Bright red or purple swollen gums

·        Shiny gums

·        Mouth sores

 

Healthy gums are pink, do not bleed and are not swollen .

 

Symptoms of advanced gum disease include:

·      Bleeding gums

·       Pus and much odor 

·       Loose or mobile teeth

·       Receding gums

 

Risk factors for gum disease include:

·        Pregnancy

·        Poor Dental Hygiene

·        Tobacco use of any kind

·        Certain bodily infections

·        Uncontrolled Diabetes

·        Misaligned teeth (crowded teeth, crooked teeth, etc…)

·        Malocclusion (overbite, cross-bite, etc…)

·        Poor fitting dental appliances (crowns, bridges, dentures, etc…)

·        Some medications, including birth control
 

If you have any of these risk factors it is very important to see your dentist regularly!

Treatment of gum disease includes:

·        Reduce the inflammation

·        Regular/more frequent dental hygiene visits (a minimum of twice a year)

·        If gum disease is severe enough a deeper cleaning called, perio scaling and root planning ,will be recommended.  This is just a cleaning that goes below the gum line and into the perio pockets around the tooth, or gum tissue surrounding the tooth, where the tooth and gums meet.

·        Meticulous at-home oral hygiene, with daily flossing

·        Correcting  misaligned teeth with orthodontic treatment

·        Replacing poor fitting dental appliances with proper fitting ones

·        Treating any bodily infections and proper management of diabetes

·        Using antibacterial mouthwashes and other aids

·        In rare cases where gum disease is not responding to treatment surgery my be required

See your dentist right away if you suspect you might have gum disease. Gum disease is just one of many reasons regular dental check-ups are good for your overall health!