It’s estimated that more than half of the adult population is dealing with some form of
gum disease. Not only adults go can suffer this, but it is estimated that a considerable
percentage of children have gum disease, too. Unfortunately, most people don’t know
that they have it and the problem grows through time.
85% of US adults suffer from some degree of gum disease, making it one of the
most common diseases in America – more common than cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or
heart disease. Yet, only 60% of those infected know they have gum disease. Worse yet,
only 3% of adults with moderate to severe levels of gum disease will accept
treatment.
If you are unsure what is Gum Disease, check our previous blog “HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE GUM DISEASE?” to give you more information!What Are The Reasons I Have Gum Disease?
- Poor Oral Hygiene
- Sugar and Acid: Eating sugars and
other foods that increase the acidity in the mouth increase bacterial counts. - Tooth Abnormalities: Teeth with cracks and crevices can trap food and encourage
plaque and bacteria growth. - Poor Dental Work: Poorly contoured fillings or crowns provide traps for debris and
plaque increasing your risk. - Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth that have broken through the gum, as well as those
that are impacted (buried) can be a major breeding ground for the bacteria. Gum
disease can be present without any signs or symptoms. - Teeth Grinding: Grinding teeth or having a bite that isn’t aligned can cause irritation
and invisible swelling of the tiny ligaments around the teeth, also leading to dental
infections.
While it is most popular to diagnose Gum Disease to adults, this can happen to anyone.
Chronic gingivitis is common in children. It usually causes the gum tissue to swell, turn
red and bleed easily. During puberty, the increased level of hormones can cause
increased blood circulation to the gums which result in increased gum sensitivity and
lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. As people
age, the risk for gum disease increases as well. In a study of people over 70 years old,
86% had at least moderate periodontitis and over a quarter of them had lost their teeth.
What Are Some Of The Common Warning Signs Of Gum
Disease?
- Chronic bad breath
- Red, swollen gums
- Bleeding when you brush
- Painful Chewing
- Loose or Sensitive teeth
- Sensitive or receding gums
- OR NO SIGNS AT ALL!
What Are The Risks of Gum Disease
Peoples’ reaction after finding out they have gum disease is usually underwhelming as
they are unaware of the risks. People aren’t aware of its connection between gum
disease and countless other serious conditions. Research has shown that loss of teeth
is tied to a decreased life span. Also, gum disease affects more than your mouth! Gum
disease has systemic connections to serious illness such as:
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
- Alzheimer & Dementia
- Oral, Kidney, Blood, or Pancreas Cancer
- Respiratory Disease
- Heart Disease
- Infertility
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
What Treatments Options Are Available to Treat Gum Disease?
Traditional surgery used to required a hygienist to use metal instruments to scrape
away the tartar and calculus on the root surface. Depending upon your dentist, an
antibacterial gel may be applied, or an antibacterial rinse prescribed. Patients may
experience discomfort, and also, this treatment may not completely remove all of the
bacteria.
However, here at Bonita del Rey Dental Care, we want to provide the latest technology
to make a faster and painless treatment for our patients. In this case, our patients will be
treated with laser surgery. Our approach is minimally-invasive, it will destroy the
bacteria on the first visit, it will have less tissue recession, and as we mentioned, it will
be less painful and the recovery time will be quicker.
How To Prevent Gum Disease?
Make February the month you commit to taking better care of
your mouth.
If your dentist told you that a treatment is needed to get rid of your periodontal disease,
the next step is to get the treatment for it. In some cases, all the treatment you might
need is a deep cleaning to remove the bacteria from the mouth and to help the gums
heal. More advanced cases of gum disease do require more advanced treatment,
though, and the sooner you take care of the problem, the better your overall health
will be. Treatments for the periodontal disease might include replacing any gum tissue
that has receded or pulled away, reducing the size of periodontal pockets, and, in more
advanced cases, removing a severely damaged tooth and replacing it with an implant.
At Bonita Del Rey Dental Care, we help patients with all stages of gum disease.
Whether you’re dealing with gingivitis or a more advanced case, or aren’t even sure if
gum disease is your problem, call (619) 777-1122 to schedule a consultation!
Resources
https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-symptoms.htm
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/GumDiseases/PeriodontalGumDisease.htm#surgery
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/gum-disease/what-are-periodontal-pockets-0315
