How Gum Disease Starts

Your mouth naturally produces a sticky substance called plaque. Without adequate brushing and flossing, this plaque builds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce poisons, or toxins, which irritate the gums, which cause infection. As the infection increases in severity, it breaks down the bones and tissues that hold your teeth in place.

The Two Primary Stages of Gum Disease

Gingivitis: The initial stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, is the mildest form of the disease. During this stage, the gums become swollen nd red, and may bleed with brushing or flossing. Gingivitis is frequently painless, and as a result, many people suffering from it don’t seek advice or treatment. But with professional treatment and daily attention to oral hygiene, gingivitis can be reversed before it progresses.

Periodontitis: Untreated gingivitis may develop into periodontitis, the more extreme form of the disease. In this state, the infected gums begin to separate from the teeth. The newly created spaces between the gums and the teeth are called pockets. As the disease progresses, these pockets grow larger, allowing for greater damage to deep tissues as well as bone. When enough tissue and bone are affected, the teeth loosen and may fall out or need to be removed.

Signs To Watch For:

Because gum disease can exist without pain or discomfort, it’s important to be aware of the possible warning signs that may indicate a problem:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
• Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you suspect that you may be suffering from gingivitis or periodontitis, make an appointment with our office immediately. We can diagnose the problem, determine how far the disease has progressed, and recommend an appropriate treatment. LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE AND OVERALL HEALTH

Gum Disease and Overall Health

Advanced, untreated gum disease degrades the tissues and bone structures surrounding the teeth and eventually causes tooth loss. But the effects of gum disease can be felt well beyond the mouth and jaw. Research links gum disease to a variety of systemic conditions that affect overall health, including heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. We refer to this as the mouth-body connection.

In some cases gum disease can cause problems in other parts of the body, while in other instances conditions seemingly unrelated to the mouth can contribute to the development or advancement of gum disease.

It’s important to let us and your general dentist know about any illnesses or conditions you are experiencing. An awareness of difficulties outside your mouth can help us treat certain problems related to your teeth and gums. In turn, we may be able to identify diseases affecting other areas of your body based on the symptoms we observe inside your mouth. Following is list of conditions known to be related to gum disease.

Diabetes
If you have diabetes, it is especially important to take good care of your teeth and gums, as gum disease and diabetes can affect each other adversely. Diabetes can disrupt the immune system’s ability to fight infection, making diabetics more susceptible to gum disease, which is essentially an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth. And advanced gum disease can boost the level of blood sugar in the body, further complicating diabetes.

Heart Disease and Stroke
The American Academy of Periodontology cites research indicating that people with gum disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery (heart) disease as those without gum disease. Currently the actual link between the two diseases is not entirely clear, though some scientists believe that bacteria from the mouth travels through the blood stream to affect the arteries in the heart. Other research points to a link between gum disease and stroke, with one study finding higher instances of oral infection in a group of stroke survivors than in a control group.

Osteoporosis
In a normal body, bone growth slows over time, and due to age and other circumstances, bone density decreases. But in people with osteoporosis, bones are weakened to the point that they are fragile enough to fracture easily and frequently. Although we most commonly hear of hip or back fractures, all bones are affected, including the jaw. A jaw with decreased bone density can’t support the teeth as well as a healthy jaw, which leaves those suffering from both gum disease and osteoporosis with a heightened risk of tooth loss. If you think you might be at risk for osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about having a bone density test. If this condition is identified early enough, treatment can help.

Respiratory Diseases
Research indicates that bacteria from the mouth – including those present in someone suffering from gum disease – can be inhaled down into the lungs, leading to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. Smoking is a primary cause of respiratory diseases, and it is also a risk factor in gum disease. Quitting smoking can improve your health in myriad ways. Please get in touch with us or your general dentist if you are looking for help with kicking the habit.

Pregnancy
During pregnancy and other phases of increased hormone levels (puberty, menstrual cycle, menopause) the risk of oral health problems is higher than normal, due to increased gum sensitivity. And some studies have linked gum disease to low birth weight and premature labor. If you are planning to become pregnant, be sure to assess your oral health first and begin treatment if you have gingivitis or periodontitis. LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTION AND RISK FACTORS

Prevention and Risk Factors

The good news about gum disease is the simplicity of preventive care for most people. The best way to avoid gum disease is to follow the same measures you take to avoid cavities: brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, floss every day, maintain a healthy diet, avoid tobacco use, and have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular schedule.

Your dentist may recommend twice-yearly or more frequent checkups depending on the state of your oral health. Even with daily home care, plaque can build up and harden into a tough substance called tartar. In this state, only a dental professional can remove it.

In the early stage of gingivitis, it’s possible to reverse or even eliminate the disease by increasing the level of oral care. But it’s important to catch the disease as early as possible. Regular dental checkups are vital, as is an awareness of the warning signs of gum disease. If gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, serious problems including tooth loss can occur.

Risk Factors for Gum Disease
A lack of good oral hygiene is a primary cause of gum disease. However, other circumstances can increase your chances of experiencing gum disease. Following are additional risk factors that you may be able to control to reduce your chance of developing gingivitis or progressing to periodontitis.

Smoking and Tobacco Use
It’s long been established that smoking and tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco) increases the risk of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and other serious health problems. It is also a recognized risk factor for gum disease. Not only does tobacco use increase the occurrence of gum disease, it can also hinder the healing process by decreasing your ability to fight infection in your gums.

Poor Nutrition
A diet lacking in vitamins and minerals makes it more difficult for your immune system to fight infection. Too many sugary foods and carbohydrates increase the production of plaque, which is the underlying cause of gum disease.

Family History
You have a higher likelihood of developing gum disease if it runs in your family. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, up to 30% of the population may be genetically predisposed to gum disease. If your close family members have gum disease, be extremely diligent in your home care and your dental visits.

Hormonal Changes
Women experience hormonal fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy and menopause, which can affect tissues in the body, including gums. Increased sensitivity in the gums can create a higher susceptibility to gum disease. Pay special attention to daily oral care and make regular visits to the dentist.

Stress
No matter what the cause (work, finances, depression, etc.), living in a state of stress can make it difficult for the body to fight off infection, including gingivitis and periodontitis. Stress is also a contributing factor to teeth grinding and clenching, which can accelerate the rate of tissue damage with gum disease.

Certain Medications
Some drugs – including certain types of anti-depressants, heart medications, anticonvulsants, steroids, chemotherapy, oral contraceptives and other medications – can affect your oral health. Drugs that lessen the flow of saliva can leave your teeth less protected than normal, and drugs that cause abnormal tissue growth can have an adverse effect on your gums. Be sure your dentist is aware of any medications you are taking.

Systemic Illnesses
Any illness that interferes with the immune system’s ability to fight infection – such as diabetes, leukemia or AIDS – can leave you more susceptible to gum disease. Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes can increase your risk for gum disease; and gum disease may decrease your ability to control your diabetes. Take special care to brush and floss daily and make regular visits to the dentist.

Then the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothed out. This provides a healthy, clean surface that makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. We may choose to offer our diode laser for additional help healing the gums.

If you address your gum disease before it becomes severe, scaling and root planning may be the only treatment you need. However, as with any dental procedure, after-care is vital. In order to keep your teeth and gums in good shape we recommend regular exams and periodontal maintenance appointments. A healthy diet, brushing and flossing daily and avoidance of tobacco use are extremely important. Even after successful root scaling and planing, if you don’t attend to your teeth properly, it is quite likely that you’ll develop gum disease again.

Pocket Depth Reduction
In a healthy mouth, the teeth are firmly surrounded by gum tissue and securely supported by the bones of the jaw. Periodontal disease damages these tissues and bones, leaving open spaces around the teeth that we call pockets. The larger these pockets are, the easier it is for bacteria to collect inside them, leading to more and more damage over time. Eventually the supportive structure degrades to the point that the tooth either falls out or needs to be removed.During pocket reduction procedures (also known as “flap surgery”), we fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria hiding underneath, as well as the hardened plaque and tartar that have collected. We may also remove any tissue that is too damaged to survive. We then sew the healthy tissue back into place. Now that the tooth and root are free of bacteria, plaque and tartar, and the pockets have been reduced, the gums can reattach to the teeth.

Regeneration
When the bone and tissue supporting the teeth have been lost due to severe gum disease, we can restore these areas with a regeneration procedure. During this process, we begin by folding back the gum tissue and removing the bacteria, plaque and tartar. Depending on your situation, we may then perform a bone graft and/or PRGF to stimulate new bone and tissue growth to repair the areas that have been destroyed by the disease.

Soft-Tissue Graft
A frequent symptom of gum disease is gum recession (also called gingival recession). As the gums recede, more of the roots are revealed. This can make teeth appear longer and can also create sensitivity to hot or cold liquids or food. It also exposes the tooth to increased damage from gum disease, as bacteria, plaque and tartar attack the surface of the tooth and the root.During a soft-tissue graft, tissue soaked in PRGF from the top of your mouth or another source is sewed to the gum area, covering the roots and restoring the gum line to its original, healthy location. This procedure can also be performed for cosmetic reasons.

For surgical treatment of gum disease, Dr. Marxen is experienced with the use of (PRGF) plasma rich in growth factors which is the latest technology in bone and tissue regeneration. This technique achieves tissue regeneration,faster healing, and less discomfort.