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Why do we talk so much about gum disease?

Periodontics: Digging deeper Into your gums

Most people think about the health of their gums approximately.never. When they’re in for a cleaning, they sheepishly admit they don’t floss as often as they should, but that’s usually the end of it. I want to share some information with you that will hopefully make taking care of your periodontal health a higher priority-it could even save your life!

First things first, let’s define terms. The periodontium consists of the area surrounding your teeth, your gums, and the bone structure underneath. It acts as the foundation supporting your teeth. The most common cause of tooth loss is disease of the periodontium and one of the most common of these diseases is periodontitis—an inflammation of the gums and bone, caused by bacteria, and resulting in irreversible bone loss.

The newest theories of periodontal management indicate that small complexes of localized bacteria-laden plaque colonies organize into a slimy biofilm on your teeth and gums. This biofilm contains its own little ingestion and excretory system, and is capable of spreading throughout the periodontium. It’s not only a danger to your dental health, but to your general health, as well. Affected groups include the following:

• Women of child-bearing age. All women of child-bearing age should be aware that the biofilm involved in advanced gum disease produces, as a by-product, the same protein that induces labor.  What many people have come to recognize as typical in pregnancies, the pregnancy gingivitis, can actually indicate the potential for a much more serious medical condition that can be life-threatening to the fetus.
• People with asthma, emphysema, diabetes, or compromised immune systems. The very presence of bacteria in the mouth provides an easy pathway for an attack on the respiratory system of a vulnerable host (you!). The simple actions of eating or breathing can help setup such an attack. Patients with asthma or emphysema are especially susceptible, although these bacteria, living deep in the recesses of tooth pockets, are a constant source of irritation to the body of anyone with a compromised immune system, particularly diabetics.
• All people with a beating heart. Recent studies have definitively linked heart disease to the same biofilm present in periodontitis. For anyone with a beating heart (and this means you!), the presence of periodontitis leaves them more vulnerable to long-term cardiac damage than someone without the disease. What’s the easiest symptom for the average person to look for?  Bleeding gums. And how can you prevent getting this advanced disease?  Stop it while it’s still in its reversible stage, known as gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums.

Now that you’re panicked, and I have your full attention, I have some good news. We have a much better understanding of the mechanics of the periodontal disease process and greatly improved  methods for treating it. The improved treatment includes repeated removals of the biofilm and cleansing of the infected site, often in conjunction with targeted delivery of antibiotics.

Because it’s so critical to your dental and general wellness, our practice is focused on establishing and maintaining good periodontal health. We use the improved treatment methods, described above, but we prefer prevention over treatment. That’s where you come in. I know you’ve heard it all before, but please, please brush and floss regularly. Seriously. Also, please be sure to watch for any bleeding of the gums, and contact us right away if you think there’s a problem. As always, we’re in your corner and looking out for you. Keep on smiling.

- Dr. John