Category: FAQs on Gum Disease

Gum disease begins with plaque, which forms in everyone’s mouth. Ideally, it is removed regularly, and does not have the opportunity to cause disease. However, plaque often lingers too long for reasons such as infrequent professional dental care, lax hygiene habits, and dental problems that make brushing difficult, such as cavities or crooked teeth.

Although good hygiene is imperative to gum health, it is not the only factor. Some people are far more likely to develop gum disease than others are, even with identical hygiene habits. The most common risk factors include:

• Age – Statistically, the older you are, the more likely you are to get gum disease. Nearly three out of four Americans over the age of 65 are afflicted.
• Poor nutrition – When we think of malnourished individuals, we think of “skin and bones” starving people. However, anyone who is not consuming an adequate amount of balanced nutrition will have deficiencies.
• Tobacco use – Smoking, or using smokeless tobacco products, inhibits your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to a variety of medical conditions, including periodontal disease.
• Genetics – Research indicates that certain people are genetically predisposed to gum disease. These individuals may be at risk even if they have excellent hygiene habits, making dental care even more important.
• Medications – Some prescription drugs, such as heart medicine, anti-depressants, and birth control pills, can affect your oral health. It is important to tell your dentist about any medicines that you take.
• Diseases – Many health conditions trigger systemic inflammation or inhibit the body’s natural immune system.
• Stress – Researchers have linked mental stress to physical health in many ways, including a higher instance of periodontal disease. It is believed that excessive stress actually reduced one’s natural resistance to infection.
• Bruxism – Grinding or clenching your teeth puts immense strain on your teeth, which is transferred to the periodontal tissues, which can increase the damage of gum disease.

Although some people are more susceptible to oral disease, everyone is at risk, making regular dental checkups important. Dr. Dietrich will check for signs of gum disease, decay, oral cancer, and other health problems, because early detection allows for the most successful and conservative treatment with virtually any condition. Call us at [phone] and schedule your appointment today.

In the past, many people did not take dental care and oral hygiene seriously. Cavities, gum disease, and missing teeth were quite common. In modern times, we have come to appreciate the beauty of a great smile and understand the importance of oral health.

Risks of gum disease

We have known for a long time that gum disease, also called periodontal disease, leads to poor oral health, diminished jawbone mass, and tooth loss. However, in recent years, a wealth of scientific research has established a link between oral health, and the health of your entire body. Untreated gum disease has been linked to heart failure, stroke, pre-term birth, arthritis, diabetes, and many more serious health conditions.

The exact nature of this link is still not fully understood, but we know that gum disease affects your whole health in two ways:

• Oral bacteria are not confined to the mouth, as it was once believed. They mix with your saliva, and even your breath, entering your lungs and digestive system, then spreading throughout your body.
• Your immune system naturally tries to fight inflammation, by releasing what are known as C-Reactive Proteins. When the infection is chronic, these proteins accumulate in your blood, causing other problems. A high level of C-Reactive Proteins is considered a stronger predictor of heart disease than high cholesterol.

What you can do

The most alarming statistic about gum disease is its prevalence – about half of Americans over the age of 30 are afflicted. However, there is good news about gum disease. It is treatable at any stage. Even better, it is usually preventable with good hygiene, healthy eating, are regular dental care.

The symptoms of gum disease are subtle, especially in the early stages. The warning signs include:

• Inflamed, tender, or sore gums
• Bleeding when you brush your teeth
• Discolored gum tissue
• Persistent bad breath, unrelated to what you have eaten
• Loose teeth

If you have any of these symptoms, or if it has been more than six months since you’ve seen a dentist, call Pleasant Dental at [phone] and schedule an appointment with Dr. Dietrich today. Our office is conveniently located in Dolton, IL, just a short drive from Calumet City.

Patients that do not brush and floss their teeth regularly or attend scheduled dental check-ups and cleanings may slowly begin to suffer from the harmful consequences of developing gum disease. Gum disease is a serious condition that can result in irreversible damage, such as the loss of natural teeth due to progressive periodontal disease. Unfortunately, many patients do not take warning from the signs of gum disease and receive immediate treatment.

What are the signs of gum disease? Gum disease can start with something as simple as bad breath. Although brushing and flossing may temporarily resolve the issue, if it keeps coming back, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. Additionally, symptoms of gum disease can also start as minor swelling of the gums and bleeding during brushing or flossing. Neither of these is normal and should be checked immediately by your dentist. Scheduling an examination as soon as you notice these problems is required, as time is not on your side when it comes to the progression of this dental disease.

Once gum disease continues to progress, it can result in gums that recede away from the teeth; unstable, “wobbly” teeth that are pulling away from the bone; and pus that may come from a patient’s gum line. By the time gum disease progresses to this point, it can be extremely difficult to treat and may require a referral to a periodontist that is specialized in addressing advanced stages of gum disease.

Gum disease is extremely avoidable with regular home dental care and continued check-ups with the dentist. Dr. Dietrich in Chicago is committed to helping those who are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease and periodontal disease. If you are experiencing possible problems due to the onset of gum disease, call Dr. Dietrich today to schedule an examination and take control of your dental health!