Periodontal or gum disease happens when bacteria gets below the gum line and the attachment between the gum and tooth is lost. Three out of four Americans have some form of periodontal disease and only 3 out of 100 will ever get treated before its too late.
Gum disease is a silent, chronic, painless and communicable bacterial infection that often goes undetected or ignored until severe gum and bone destruction is unbearable and no longer able to be ignored. Left untreated gum disease can cause tooth loss and traditional treatment can hurt.
We will do complete assessment of your gum health at your first visit and annually thereafter. If we find that there are sites of infection we will recommend a series of cleanings to improve the health of your gum tissues. We will also guide you in proper hygiene procedures that you can perform at home. Sometimes, we may refer you to a periodontist for further treatment if we are not seeing good results. Our hygienists are great at being gentle and working with you to educate you about your oral health. Recent studies have shown a link between periodontal(gum) health and our bodies. Read below to see the many negative effects that periodontal disease can have on the body.
Individuals suffering from diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetics, have a higher risk of developing bacterial infections of the mouth. These infections may impair your ability to process insulin, resulting in greater difficulty with controlling your diabetes. Periodontal diseases will be more severe than those of a non-diabetic and treatment more difficult. However, well-controlled diabetics have a lower incidence of cavities.
Steps to prevent periodontal disease include daily brushing and flossing to remove plaque from your teeth and gums, regular dental visits for professional cleaning and regular periodontal evaluation. Your health professional must also be told of your history and the current status of your condition. And finally, you can help resist periodontal infection by maintaining control of your blood sugar levels.
Throughout a woman's life, hormonal changes affect tissue throughout the body. Fluctuations in levels occur during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. At these times, the chance of periodontal disease may increase, requiring special care of your oral health.
During puberty, there is increased production of sex hormones. These higher levels increase gum sensitivity and lead to greater irritations from plaque and food particles. The gums can become swollen, turn red and feel tender.
Similar symptoms occasionally appear several days before menstruation. There can be bleeding of the gums, bright red swelling between the teeth and gum, or sores on the inside of the cheek. The symptoms clear up once the period has started. As the amount of sex hormones decrease, so do these problems.
Your gums and teeth are also affected during pregnancy. Between the second and eighth month, your gums may also swell, bleed and become red or tender. Large lumps may appear as a reaction to local irritants. However, these growths are generally painless and not cancerous. They may require professional removal, but usually disappear after pregnancy.
Periodontal health should be part of your prenatal care. Any infections during pregnancy, including periodontal infections, can place a baby's health at risk. It may increase a pregnant mom's risk of a PRE-TERM LOW BIRTHWEIGHT baby by 7.5 times!
The best way to prevent periodontic infections is to begin with healthy gums and continue to maintain your oral health with proper home care and careful periodontic monitoring.
Swelling, bleeding and tenderness of the gums may also occur when you are taking oral contraceptives, which are synthetic hormones.
You must mention any prescriptions you are taking, including oral contraceptives, prior to medical or dental treatment. This will help eliminate risk of drug interactions, such as antibiotics with oral contraceptives - where the effectiveness of the contraceptive can be lessened.
Changes in the look and feel of your mouth may occur if you are menopausal or post-menopausal. They include feeling pain and burning in your gum tissue and salty, peppery or sour tastes.
Careful oral hygiene at home and professional cleaning may relieve these symptoms. There are also saliva substitutes to treat the effects of "dry mouth."
Periodontitis may increase your risk of a STROKE or HEART ATTACK by nearly 3-fold. By comparison, high cholesterol may only increase this by half that. This relationship is due to the increased levels of inflammatory mediators (called cytokines) in response to gum disease. With the response of increased C-reactive proteins, your body is in a hyper-inflammatory state. Clots, atherosclerosis, and strokes develop.
home | patient information | treatments | cosmetic treatments | dental health | meet us | contact us | sitemap | disclaimer
Dental Website Designby PBHS 2009©