Gum disease is one of the most common conditions in adults,
with close to 90% of dental patients experiencing some form of gingivitis. Gum
disease can range from mild gingivitis to severe bone reduction causing tooth
loss. While hereditary predisposition to gum disease is real, most people can
take a proactive response to eliminate or even reverse this oral disease.
What Does
Gum Disease Look Like?
Early forms of gingivitis appear as small, irritated areas
along the gumline that may be tender or bleed when you brush and floss. Healthy
gums don’t bleed when you clean them. This usually causes people to avoid
flossing the areas and allowing the condition to worsen. As gingivitis turns
into periodontal disease, your dentist can see signs of obvious bone loss on
your routine dental x-rays. There are also deep pockets, which develop under
your gums due to the presence of unhealthy bacteria in the area. When left
untreated, these areas continue to worsen until so much bone and gum attachment
is lost that there is nothing left to hold your teeth in place.
Are Their
Systemic Complications Associated with Gum Disease?
Yes. Active gum disease has been shown to correlate directly
with an increased risk to develop:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Premature labor / Low birth weight
- Cardiovascular disease
- Erectile dysfunction
Because the bacteria present in your mouth can spread
throughout the cardiovascular system, there is an increased risk for bacteria
to deposit in your arteries, or complicate blood sugar levels. The severity of
gum disease is directly associated with the severity of other diseases, with
the risks of those conditions being greatly improved as gum disease is brought
under control.
Where Can
I Have My Gum Disease Treated?
At Brampton family dentistry. Good clinics offer periodontal therapy and preventive visits for
patients with all stages of gum disease. More severe cases involve something
called a deep cleaning, which allows the hygienists to remove disease-causing
bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth. Reputed clinics also work directly
with the patients to develop a customized oral hygiene care plan that reduces
plaque levels and maintains optimum oral health.
When patients carefully follow oral care therapies for their
gum disease, they are typically successful at reversing the condition. While
bone levels do not grow back, improving the attachment of your gum tissue is
essential to prevent further disease conditions from spreading.
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