Gum Disease

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Gum disease also referred to as PERIODONTAL DISEASE, is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. This disease is caused by plaque, the sticky colorless film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Because gum disease  

is painless in its  early stages, it is the number one cause of  tooth loss in adults.  

Healthy gums are pink and firm and should not bleed when brushing and flossing.  Some warning signs of periodontal disease include: 

* Red, swollen and tender gums 

* Gums that bleed easily 

* Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth 

* Longer-looking teeth (receding gums) 

* Loose or shifting teeth 

* Pus around the teeth and gums 

* Changes in bite.  

To reduce the risk of developing periodontal disease it is important to practice good oral hygiene, have a healthy and balanced diet and visit your dentist regularly. 

GINGIVITIS 

Gingivitis is a common form of gum disease that causes irritation, bleeding, and inflammation of your gums. Because gingivitis can be mild and painless, you may not be aware that you have the condition. It's important to treat gingivitis promptly since it can lead to much more serious gum disease (periodontitis) and eventually tooth loss. 

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. Good oral health habits, such as brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups, can help to reverse or prevent gingivitis.
 

PERIODONTITIS 

When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages the gum tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. 

Periodontitis is not only the number one cause of tooth loss in adults, studies indicate a close connection to other serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and adverse pregnancy outcomes among others. 

TREATMENT 

The main goal of gum disease treatment is to control the infection. Depending on the extent of the disease, treatments range from non surgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgical procedures to restore bone and other supportive tissues. 

Non-surgical procedures include: 

Professional Dental Cleaning 

Regular dental  visits  are the best way to prevent major dental issues and keep your gums healthy.  The American Dental Association recommends a minimum of two dental visits per year. During your dental checkups we remove dental plaque and tartar (plaque that becomes hard) from all your teeth.  One or two regular cleanings are typically all that is necessary to clear up the early stages of gingivitis. If you have some signs of gum disease, we may recommend a professional dental cleaning more than twice a year. 

Scaling and Root Planning 

When plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing,  plaque will eventually harden into calculus or tartar. This build up will cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating a pocket where bacteria can grow. 

Scaling and Root Planning is a DEEP CLEANING below the gum line, this is a non-surgical procedure done under local anesthetic and usually takes two visits to complete. During the SCALING, we remove plaque and tartar below the gumline, and the ROOT PLANING smoothes the root surface helping the gums to reattach to the tooth. 

In some patients, scaling  and root planning is all that is needed to treat gum disease. If the tissues around the teeth cannot be repaired by nonsurgical treatments, we will refer you with a Periodontist to continue the efforts in restoring your periodontal health. 

BAD BREATH 

Bad breath also known as halitosis, is a symptom in which a noticeably unpleasant odor is present and affects an estimated 25%  of people globally. Bad breath is estimated to be the third most common reason for people to seek  dental care, after tooth decay and gum disease.  There are a number of causes of halitosis but the most common one is directly related to poor oral hygiene. If particles of food are left in the mouth, this slowly break down, producing bad odor. 

Bad breath is a common problem that can give significant psychological distress and embarrassment but, it is easy to remedy.  The best treatment for halitosis is regular brushing, flossing and dental exams and cleanings twice a year.