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Gum Disease
Serious But Stoppable
Although gum disease is terribly pervasive, it's also preventable. Conservative estimates report that up to 80% of people unknowingly have some level of chronic gum disease. What's worse is that this disease is responsible for up to 70% of adult tooth loss. Part of the problem is that the early signs of gum disease are both silent and serious, requiring a dentist's trained eye to detect, treat, and arrest the telltale gum inflammation and infection. However, once arrested, you can prevent gum disease from recurring…simply by developing healthy hygiene habits.
Bacteria, Bad Choices, & Bad Genes
Several factors contribute to periodontal disease: plaque build-up, heredity, and lifestyle choices. By far the most common and controllable factor, however, is bacterial plaque-- the sticky, colorless film produced by normal oral bacteria. If you don't remove plaque daily by brushing and flossing, they release toxins that break down the natural fibers that hold your gums to your teeth, allowing even more bacteria and toxins to invade. Unchecked, this process can permanently damage or destroy the affected tooth, tooth root, and even the jawbone! Further, plaque deposits quickly harden into calculus or tartar - a rough, porous substance that further irritates your gums that brushing will not remove.
Besides poor oral health habits, your poor lifestyle choices can affect your body's ability to fight infection or increase irritation in the gum tissue area. Poor nutrition and poorly managed stress reduce your body's natural ability to ward off periodontal disease, as well as leukemia, AIDS, and diabetes. Smoking and chewing tobacco irritate the gum tissue. And finally, some people are simply born with a diminished resistance to gum disease.
Warning Signs & Treatment
To identify periodontal disease, we check for red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, gums that pull away from teeth, loose or separating teeth, puss between the gum and tooth, persistent bad breath, change in the bite, and/or a change in the fit of partial dentures. These symptoms are overlooked by most people, making regular dental exams even more important. If you do have gum disease, treatment may include simple scaling and root planning to remove calculus and plaque around the tooth and root surfaces, use of antibiotics or antimicrobials, and an improved commitment to proper daily oral hygiene. In severe cases, treatment may require surgery, calculus removal, and re-contouring of any damaged bone to smooth the root surfaces and reposition gum tissue. After this treatment, it's critical that you brush twice daily with a soft nylon-bristled brush, floss daily, and thoroughly brush your tongue. Small, narrow 'proxy' brushes may assist you in cleaning tooth recesses more thoroughly. More frequent professional cleanings may include repeat spot scaling, root planning, and a thorough follow-up exam.
