Gum Diseases

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Do you know what is the number one threat to your oral health and the number one reason for early and unnecessary tooth loss? It's not cavities or even root canals, believe it or not. It is what's known as gum disease, or in dental terminology "Periodontal Disease" or "Periodontitis." According to National Health Institute, 3 out of 4 adults over the age of 33 have one of the forms of gum disease. Most people don't even realize they might have it, because gum disease is painless and silent, especially in the early to middle stages. Once a patient begins to experience any kind of discomfort symptoms, it might be too late to stop the destruction that has already taken place.

A great concern of dentists today is that patients are not sufficiently concerned about their periodontal status, despite the fact that there is increasing evidence of links between gum disease and other serious health conditions, such as heart disease for example.

This silent but very destructive disease is caused primarily by bacterial plaque (it's a sticky filmy substance that forms on the teeth and gums). If plaque build ups are not dealt with by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, bacteria release toxins that destroy sensitive fibers that anchor your gums firmly to your teeth. That in turn will create a gum "pocket" between the gum and the tooth. These pockets if left untreated will deepen and therefore harbor armies of bacteria and their by-products which will set in infection in the gums and subsequently the bone underneath. That bone is an anchorage for the roots of our teeth, something that provides vital support for our teeth and enables us to eat, talk and function regularly. Once the supporting bone is infected, it starts to "waste away" from the teeth, therefore undermining the support and eventually enabling the teeth to loosen up and may be even fall out.

Our goal is prevention. Nowadays it is easier than ever to detect and battle gum disease. While it may be impossible for us to re-grow the bone that's been lost, it is nevertheless vitally important to check-up your gum and bone status regularly in order to prevent any possible future bone loss.

While there is no cure for Periodontitis, we definitely treat it to prevent unnecessary destruction and tooth loss. Treatment usually consists of "scaling and root planning" - a deep cleaning procedure that removes plaque and infectious materials from gum pockets and smoothes out root surfaces underneath the gums to hinder future plaque build ups. In many instances we accompany it with chemical therapy as well, either by means of antibiotic regimen or anti-plaque oral rinses which are greatly effective only in conjunction with active gum therapy.

In rare instances when we do not see the results of the initial therapy, a referral to the gum specialist (Periodontist) may be an important option. Periodontist can offer a more radical, sometimes surgical approach, to attempt to treat and save the teeth.

How may you know if you have gum disease? Here are a few signs that can help you identify the disease in its early (and therefore easy to treat) stages:

Gums that bleed, even slightly, when you brush or floss your teeth
Persistent bad breath, or a constant bad taste in your mouth
Swollen or tender gums, or gums that appear more red than usual
Gums that appear to have pulled away or are receding from your teeth
Teeth that are loose or seem to be changing position
Teeth that are overall really sensitive to cold and sometimes sweets.

Remember, we can help you save your natural teeth - early detection and treatment are the key. Together we can win this battle. Please make sure you come in for your regularly scheduled check-ups and do not hesitate to ask us what you can do to improve and maintain your oral health status.