Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Are you concerned that your teeth are getting loose? Do you have an "off" taste in your mouth or bad breath that just won't go away? You may have periodontal disease, also known as gum disease.
Periodontal or gum disease can become a serious problem if it is left untreated.
Periodontal disease can lead to many problems.
Periodontal disease, at its worst, can cause tooth and bone loss and it can be quite painful when it is severe. But even in mild cases, it can cause problems, such as bad breath or bleeding gums. Your smile may be affected, because your inflamed gums may become red and swollen.
Additionally, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that periodontal disease may be a factor in other health conditions, including stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. This is because bacteria in the gums can travel to other parts of the body, causing infection and inflammation.
Periodontal or gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Of course, no-one wants to lose teeth if not necessary. However, everyone is susceptible to gum disease. Periodontal disease is common and happens when food particles lead to plaque on the teeth. Bacteria feed on the plaque and cause an infection in the gums, which leads to inflammation and other problems.
Gum disease starts off as gingivitis, inflammation of the gums, and can progress to periodontitis, which is a more serious infection of the gums that can lead to bone and tooth loss. This is why prevention is so important.
There are several risk factors that make people more likely to develop periodontal disease at some point including poor dental hygiene, genetics, certain illnesses, smoking, and teeth grinding.
People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, as many as 30% of Americans may have a genetic tendency that predisposes them to periodontal disease. If you are one of these people, you may be up to six times more likely to develop gingivitis or periodontitis.
Certain types of illnesses that can compromise the immune system, such as cancer or HIV, could make someone more likely to have problems with gum disease. Some types of medicines may also have side effects that increase the possibility of periodontal disease.
Both tobacco and marijuana smoke have been shown to increase risk of gum disease in various studies. Why? It may be as simple as the smoke drying out the inside of the mouth or irritating the gums.
Teeth grinding or clenching can also make you more prone to gum disease. If you have any conditions or habits that might contribute to periodontal disease, let us know here at See Me Smile Dental, so we can take special care to monitor your gum health.
The good news is, you can alleviate, prevent, and often reverse gum disease with the right treatment and maintenance. If you have serious periodontitis that has progressed to the point of bone or tooth loss, you won't be able to regrow that bone or generate a new tooth. You can still, however, greatly improve the health of your gums and rejuvenate your oral health.
The first steps to take are to have a consultation with us at See Me Smile Dental in Santa Barbara, California. We will do a thorough exam and take X-rays to gauge the health of your teeth, gums, and bones. We will also measure the depths of your gum pockets. Then, depending on the health of your gums, we will come up with a treatment plan.
Typically, periodontal patients need special deep "periodontal" teeth cleanings from either three to four times a year, when it is acute, to twice a year for maintenance. If your gum pockets are deep and infected, we may recommend a special deep teeth cleaning and root scaling that requires some local anesthetic. This will clean the deep rooted tartar and plaque that is causing the gum inflammation and infection.
Once we have set the foundation for your gum health with a professional cleaning, you need to take over with maintaining your teeth and gum health at home. It's not that hard to do!
The most important thing you should do to help prevent and recover from gum disease is to properly brush and floss your teeth.
The best, cheapest, and easiest way to maintain healthy teeth and gums is proper daily self-maintenance at home, combined with regular professional cleanings at See Me Smile Dental. These two things will reduce your risk of tooth loss, which can be a consequence of advanced gum disease.
Even if you are already brushing and flossing on a regular basis, you may not be doing your teeth cleaning in an optimal manner. With better brushing technique, you can get much better results.
Make sure you talk to us here at See Me Smile Dental in Santa Barbara if you have any questions about proper brushing techniques. We will be happy to demonstrate for you.
Here are a few key points to remember when it comes to brushing and flossing:
Make sure you floss at least once per day after you brush. If you truly hate floss, alternatives to floss exist, such as soft gum picks and brushes, waterpiks, and floss picks that set the floss up on a plastic frame so you don't have to wind it around your fingers. Normal floss is the best, but it's better to use something than nothing at all.
Once you are done flossing, you should use an antibacterial mouthwash to rinse your mouth. You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide - mix some hydrogen peroxide (the kind you get from the drugstore) with an equal amount of water and swish for 30 seconds.
In addition to regular flossing and brushing, keep your gums healthy with healthy habits. These include:
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