Gum Disease

Gum disease is an infection that hides in your mouth and destroys gum tissue, teeth, and bone. The early stages are often painless and mild, like swollen gums or bleeding while brushing. Regular dental checkups are vital because a professional can detect, treat, and reverse gum disease in early stages before major problems arise.

What can cause gum disease?

Several factors contribute to periodontal disease: plaque build-up, genetics, and lifestyle choices. By far the most common and controllable factor is plaque buildup on the teeth (a sticky, colorless film produced by normal oral bacteria). Bacteria releases toxins that break down the natural fibers that bond gum to teeth.

When this occurs, pockets between the gums and teeth form, and more bacteria and toxins hid, flourish, and destroy your gums and teeth. Over time, this process can affect not only gums, teeth, and bone within the mouth, but also overall health. Bacteria in your mouth will be inadvertently ingested, and t this can compromise your whole-body health.

Gum disease has two stages:

• Gingivitis – This is the early stage of gum disease when the gums become red and swollen, and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is treatable and can usually be eliminated by improved routine hygiene and changes in home care.
• Periodontitis – If left untreated, gingivitis will advance into periodontitis, and the gums and bone that support the teeth will become seriously and irreversibly damaged.  Treatment indicated root planing – a nonsurgical deep cleaning – followed with more frequent re-care and better home care

Keeping your smile healthy is very important for your overall health. Let our family take care of you and your family. We customize each patient’s hygiene visits to fit their needs for a healthy smile (because no two mouths are the same!) You can significantly reduce your chances of ever getting gum disease, and by practicing good oral hygiene at home, regular customized dental checkups (which allows us to keep a watchful eye on the health of your gums) will keep you smiling.

Reasons for Scaling and Root Planing

• Disease prevention – The oral bacteria which causes periodontal infections can travel via the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Research has shown that lung infections and heart disease have been linked to periodontal bacteria. Scaling and root planning remove bacteria and halt periodontal disease from progressing, thus preventing the bacteria from traveling to other parts of the body.
• Tooth protection – When gum pockets exceed 3mm in depth there is a greater risk of periodontal disease. As pockets deepen, they tend to house more colonies of dangerous bacteria. Eventually a chronic inflammatory response by the body begins to destroy gingival and bone tissue, which may lead to bone loss. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the world.
• Aesthetic effects – Scaling and root planing help remove tartar and plaque from the teeth and below the gum line.
• Better breath – one of the most common signs of periodontal disease is bad breath. Food particles and bacteria can cause a persistent bad odor in the oral cavity, which is alleviated with cleaning procedures such as scaling and root planning.

Certain factors can increase a patient’s risk of developing periodontal disease, including:

• Smoking or using tobacco
• Diabetes
• Certain types of medications
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth
• Old fillings
• Pregnancy

While it is possible to have periodontal disease and not know it, some symptoms can include:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red, swollen, tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Pus between your teeth and gums
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures
• See Cleaning and Prevention