Periodontal (gum) disease is the term that refers to an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. This condition is typically caused by poor habits of brushing and flossing your teeth that can lead to plaque buildup. In a more advanced stage of the disease, the gums may appear swollen and bleeding, and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

The presence of a gum disease poses a serious threat to your oral health. Research shows that seventy percent of adult tooth loss is attributed to gum disease. Early symptoms of gum disease may appear silent. The symptoms may be painless and mild swollen gums or bleeding while brushing. Regular visit with your dentist is important because a dental professional can detect, treat, and reverse the ugly signs of gum disease.

Who gets gum disease?

Many individuals do not show signs of gum disease until they reach the age of 30 to 40 years. It is almost impossible for the teenagers to develop a periodontal disease. Gingivitis commonly occurs among teenagers. Most commonly, periodontal disease develops when there is plaque buildup along and under the gum line.

What are the risk factors?

• Smoking. This bad habit plays as the top significant risk factor associated with the development of periodontal disease. Smoking can jeopardize the success of the treatment.

• Hormonal change among women. Low level of estrogen, a female hormone, can lead to gum sensitivity and makes gingivitis to develop much easier.

• Diabetes. Diabetic people are prone to develop infections.

• Medications. Some medications can contribute to the development of gum disease. Antidepressant and antihypertensive medications lessen the flow of saliva inside the mouth. Saliva protects our gums and teeth.

• Stress. Research shows that stress can weaken the immune system of an individual which makes the person more susceptible to infection, including gum disease.

• Illnesses. There are diseases like AIDS that make a person more prone to infection, including gum problems.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

The following symptoms are usually evident during the advanced stage of gum disease.

• Halitosis or bad breath that don’t go away

• Reddish or swollen gums

• Bleeding gums especially when brushing

• Pain upon chewing

• Loose and sensitive teeth

How can gum disease be prevented?

The ugly signs of gum disease can be reversed in many ways. To maintain a good periodontal health is a serious job and it requires a serious commitment to oral hygiene. The simple tasks listed below should be followed to prevent the onset of gum disease:

• Brushing your teeth regularly with dentist-recommended toothpaste.

• Make it a habit to use a dental floss to clean in between teeth.

• Visit your dental specialist for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.

• Make sure to eat a well balanced diet.

• Do not smoke.

What are the treatments available?

The main goal of the treatment is to control infection. The kind of treatment that will be performed vary according to the extent of severity of the patient’s gum problem. Strict and committed daily home care is needed to any type of dental treatment. It is also important to do some lifestyle modifications like quitting from the bad habit of smoking.

Some medications are included in the treatment plan. Scaling and root planning are good options but they cannot take the place of surgical intervention. Dental scraping is a procedure done by dentists to scrape off the tartar from above and below the gum line while root planning gets rid of the rough spots on the tooth root where the germs accumulate and multiply. It depends on the extent on gum disease if the dentist will prefer to do surgical procedure to cure this disease.

It is important to see your dentist regularly. This period will allow you to closely monitor the status of your dental health. It is necessary to maintain a good oral habit to ensure optimum dental health. Be sure to see a competent dental specialist to meet your demands. The state-of-art facilities of Chandler dental office can help you as well as your dentist to plan for your treatment.

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Gum disease is a condition that seems to plague a good number of people, but most especially those who are advanced in age.

It is also said to be a silent killer, spawning certain types of heart disease.

However, the question is, is there even a way to prevent it, given its propensity?

It is said that over thirty million people have this condition. Causes for this range from poor dental hygiene or lack of hydration to other, more systemic conditions such as diabetes.

What are your treatment options, then?

Of course, preventive care must include regular (and proper) brushing and flossing of the teeth.

But if you are already afflicted with gum disease, then you may be presented with both surgical and non-surgical treatment options by your dentist or periodontist.

In either case, it is important to do what you can do keep your own natural teeth – if at all possible.

When it comes to non-surgical treatments, the American Academy of Periodontics guidelines stress that periodontal treatment should be accomplished in the least invasive but most cost-effective manner.

So, the most common treatment would be scaling and root planing followed by adjunctive therapy.

Scaling and root planing are terms used for separate procedures to scale, or strip-off the tartar from the teeth and plane, or clean and smooth the exposed root surfaces using hand instruments.

The purpose of each is to remove debris and bacteria-laden tartar, but also to smooth the tooth surfaces so that plaque has a harder time of adhering in the future.

After scaling and root planing, most patients do not require additional, intensive therapy.

However, because of its limitations, there may be a need for some patients to undergo surgical treatments.

Surgical treatments would involve pocket reduction procedures, regenerative procedures, crown lengthening and bone or soft tissue grafts.

Of course, these types of procedures will be much more costly but could be a necessary measure in order to prevent the disease from further spreading and branching off into other complications.

Protect yourself from periodontal disease and ensure your dental insurance policy covers all aspects of periodontal treatment, so you won’t have to bear the cost of treatment that could save your precious teeth.

*Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to advise upon, diagnose or treat any health problem whatsoever. If you have or think you might have a health problem, visit your doctor or dentist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Chlorhexidine is a powerful chemical formula that is prescribed as a mouthwash mostly after dental surgery in the United States. This mouthwash may also be prescribed for various other situations.

Most often you will also receive a warning not to use it for more than two or a few weeks. This is because Chlorhexidine can stain your teeth.

Things are little different in Europe than in the United States. Some things are sold over-the-counter there that you cannot get without a prescription in the United States.

I was in a drug store in Germany and found some Chlorhexidine. I was initially excited because it claimed to be an "anti-staining’ formula. Since I was travelling and did not have access to the tools I normally use for my daily oral care, I thought I’d give this ‘anti-staining’ formula a try.

Forget it! Within a week I could see that it was beginning to stain my teeth. I promptly stopped using it.

Dental health is a problem for almost every human being alive. There is a small percentage of the population that appears to be immune to gum disease, but most of us have to fight against it at one point or another.

In fact, as I recall, I found a stat on the Mayo Clinic’s website stating that 95% of people over age 65 have some form of gum disease. If true, the implications are staggering! Just think about it.

The problem is that this is not a disease that happens as a result of aging as many people think. You can be six years old and have the disease. What is important is that people become more aware of it.

Even your dentist will tell you that your dental health is largely up to what you do at home! They can only see you a couple to a few times a year at most. That does mean that the bulk of the work in caring for your dental health falls on you personally. This is one of those things that we pretty much have to do for ourselves!

Learn what you can do to help stop the progression of gum disease based on what you do at home. Prevent this serious problem from causing you to lose teeth.

Author David S.

Disclaimer: This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.
 

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Steps to Successful Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth placed directly into the jaw via a surgical procedure. Dental implants are great for people who are in good health, but, who have lost teeth due to any number of misfortunes. Implants are very natural looking and feel almost exactly like “regular teeth” when you bite or chew food.

Since they are connected to the gums and bone in your mouth, a periodontist will normally be the primary member of any tooth implant team. They will usually give you an initial consultation, and let you know where the implant(s) will be placed.

Depending on the type of implants you wish to use and your mouth’s current condition, the periodontist will create a custom tailored treatment plan. Many things can alter this plan. For instance, will you be replacing a single tooth, or several teeth?

It’s also quite common for Prosthodontists and Oral Surgeons to perform dental implant procedures.  And in larger, multi-disciplinary clinics or dental groups, it’s commonplace for the three specialists to work together on implant cases.  Particularly if the implants are part of a full-mouth reconstruction project.  But even outside of larger clinical settings, it’s not at all uncommon for the primary dentist to consult with and possibly refer you to one or more other specialists.

Single tooth replacement can be carried out with an implant and a dental crown. This procedure replaces not only the tooth, but also the tooth’s root. It also carries a number of advantages over other options; it looks like a natural tooth and the implant can be placed in the mouth without harming neighboring teeth.

Since the dental implant replaces the root in addition to the crown, your bone usually remains intact. In the long run, a single tooth replacement can be easier to keep clean than a dental bridge and your gums will not recede around the metal.  Single tooth implant is a great option.

When replacing multiple teeth, a dental bridge is usually necessary. These bridges will replace all of the lost natural teeth and many of the roots.

First, implants that look like screws are placed within your jaw and left to heal. A few months later, the implants and bone will have usually bonded together. Next, abutments (small metal posts) are installed to complete the foundation. Your gums are then allowed a few weeks to heal before the process continues. Finally, bridges (or replacement teeth rows) will be created for you, and installed by your periodontist. These replacements are attached to the before mentioned abutments.

After your implants have been installed, the recovery process begins. Full recovery and healing usually takes about 3-6 weeks.  This, of course, will depend on the number and type of dental implants used in your procedure – the more implants, the longer the healing time.

To avoid complications while healing, one should avoid smoking cigarettes. It can also be beneficial to use ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (your provider will most likely prescribe), which will decrease swelling and ease pain.

Also, proper oral hygiene is imperative while you heal.  And the use of a non-alcoholic mouthwash may help to keep the implant areas more sanitary, which will speed healing.  Your dentist will most likely provide you with several products and thorough instructions that will enable you to properly clean and maintain your new appliance at home.

Though they aren’t nearly as good as the real thing, properly installed dental implants are currently the best alternative for replacing lost teeth.  If both the installation and maintenance are done correctly and the patient maintains good physical and oral health, these devices can perform well and last for several decades.

By: Paul Guenther

Image by Shawn Econo via Flickr

Gum disease is an infection in your mouth, causing the gums and underlying bone to become unhealthy.

With this disease, if it continues to go unchecked, you might lose your teeth and you could also notice your overall health declining.

There are some people who are more apt to experience periodontal disease.  Possibly due to diabetes or Down syndrome.  Both of those medical conditions can affect a person’s mouth and cause them to be more susceptible to gingival disease easier than others.

Periodontal disease may even be hereditary in some cases. Children of parents who’ve always experienced problems will want to keep a close watch on their teeth.

People who smoke and use chewing tobacco are more apt to experience gum disease, too. The chemicals in the tobacco not only stain the teeth, but also irritate the gums, causing them to shrink, recede and just be generally unhealthy.  Not to mention the possibility of several cancers from using those products.

Eating a lot of sugar will certainly put you into the category of a person likely to have periodontal disease.  But it doesn’t necessarily guarantee it.

Really, it’s all about your oral hygiene.

That’s why it’s important to begin a good regimen of taking care of your teeth when you’re young.  When you get home and eat a snack after school, brush your teeth as soon as you’re done eating.  Or at least vigorously swish with warm water for a minute or two after eating or drinking anything with calories in it.

Today’s diet consists of mostly processed, carbohydrate-rich foods.  These are the perfect foods to facilitate cavity formation and gum disease.

Why?  Because they are easier for the bacteria in our mouths to consume and use in their activities.  And those activities consist mainly of eating and reproducing.

But, it’s all that activity that produces a whole lot of waste products, like a construction site does.

The waste products in this case are acids and other toxins that cause cavities, gum disease and other issues in a person’s mouth and even their entire body.

And all this takes places within a convenient, ever-forming matrix – plaque!

Right, all those bacteria do most of their damage if you allow plaque to form and remain on your teeth or gums for some period of time.

In fact, within 24-72 hours, unattended plaque will begin to gradually harden, using the minerals in your saliva, into tartar.

It is this tartar that causes the most damage.  Because it still “houses” colonies of harmful bacteria, while being chemically bonded to your teeth.

Plus, it must be mechanically removed, usually with a dental hand instrument by a professional…

Which is why a habit of brushing or swishing after each meal, snack or drink with calories in it is one of the best ways you can keep plaque and tartar formation – and bacterial development – to the minimum.

And eating raw food over pre-processed foods also plays a major role in minimizing plaque development.  Since the bacteria need the plaque as a matrix to grow and thrive in, they can’t affect any damage if there is no plaque, right?

Therefore, it naturally follows that the more raw foods a person eats, the less plaque and fewer disease causing bacteria will be found in their mouths.

And the fewer bacteria of that type, the less chance of any disease process setting in.

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.