Research has shown that over half of adults over the age of 35 are in the early stages of having periodonatal disease. What is periodontal disease, you may ask? This is a great question! Periodontal disease (often referred to as “gum disease”) is an infection affecting tissue around the tooth. It is a serious problem that should be addressed as soon as possible, since this tissue includes not only your gums, but also the bone line below the gum. Untreated, periodontal disease will lead to tooth loss. However, we are jumping way ahead of ourselves. You may be asking:

How do I actually get periodontal disease?

What can I do to prevent it?

Is it reversable?

These are all great questions. Let’s start at the beginning. Every time someone eats or drinks something, remains stick to your teeth. This is called plaque. If plaque is not brushed away within 24 hours, it can become so hard that only the instruments at your dentist’s office can remove it. At this point, it is no longer called plaque, it is called calculus. You may also know it as tartar. This is why it is so important to brush at least twice daily, and to floss at least once a day — to prevent the plaque in your mouth from changing to tartar.

Each and evrey one of us has bacteria in our mouth — it is a fact of life. However, this bacteria loves to feed off of the tartar in our mouth. Essentially, when this bacteria gets to the tarter, it can cause a cavity in the tooth. However, if the bacteria goes another direction, down, it will cause a gum infection (periodontal disease.) Our gums, which do not want to be infected by the bacteria, begine to recede, causing a pocket between the tooth and the gum. This pocket makes it easier for food to get caught between your teeth, and it is much harder to remove through brushing and flossing, making the gum recede even more. Now, below the gum line is bone. When your gum recedes, your bone does as well. If both continue to recede, there is essentially nothing holding your tooth in place, and this is when tooth loss begins to occur. The latest research shows that 92% of us have some kind of tartar in our mouths, and three out of every four has tarter below the gums, where it causes the most severe damage.

Some of the most significant signs of periodontal disease are bleeding or swollen gums, bad breath (even after brushing), loose permanent teeth, and obvious recession of gums. Of course, there are other factors that can increase your risk of contracting periodontal disease. Some would include smoking, crowded or spaced teeth, diabetes, and even old fillings and crown/bridge work where food is getting stuck beneath. This is why it is so important to stick to your six month cleanings — so this can be found and treated before the next step is needed.

At this point, you may be asking what the next step is. The treating of periodontal disease is called Perio Scaling and Root Planing. This is a process where the doctor or the dental hygienist. removes the tarter that is below the gum line. By doing this, it strengthers the gums and allows them to regenerate, closing the pockets that the disease had caused. Unfortunatly, bone does not grow back. However, if the gums are healthy, it is enough to hold the teeth in place for a very long time, assuming that you regularly see the dentist for your follow up cleanings.

There are definitely ways that you can prevent periodontal disease. Some of the easiest and most effective ways would include brushing your teeth at least twice daily, and flossing at least once a day. Eating well balanced meals and avoiding sticky and sugary snacks is another great preventative tool. Finally, examining your own mouth and looking for the warning signs is another important factor. If you notice bleeding or feel you have bad breath, mention this to your dentist at your six month check up, so it can be addressed NOW!

If you would like to learn more about periodontal disease, feel free to check out what the ADA has posted about it on their official website. You can be directly taken to their website by clicking here!. As always, if you have any additional questions that weren’t addressed in this blog, or if you simply want to schedule an exam with Dr. Silva, give our office a call or send an email, and we will get you into the office as soon as possible.

Tags: bad breath, Bleeding gums, calculus, disease, dr. silva, perio, periodontal, periodontal disease, plaque, silva, tartar

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