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
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, pus 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.
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