A lot of people have been wondering, why did the Surgeon General label gum disease as a ‘silent epidemic’ a while back? It is something we all need to wonder about, so that we can inform ourselves about the issue. Gum disease can lead to serious health problems. It could be related to problems which can ultimately result in death. There is absolutely no reason to take that kind of risk where your health is concerned.

So, why is gum disease considered a silent epidemic? It is not just because it can cause you to lose your teeth. It is not just because it can lead to heart disease. It is not just because gum disease has even been linked to certain types of cancer and other potentially fatal conditions and problems.

This is a silent epidemic because so many people have it without even realizing it. It is a silent epidemic because the symptoms are so innocuous in the beginning that it is far too easy for people to ignore them.

It is thus imperative that you go to great pains to take care of yourself and your teeth. Naturally, twice yearly checkups with your dentist are a must. Your dentist will be able to identify and diagnose gum disease in some of its earliest stages, when it is still reversible – but only if he or she has the chance. If you do not visit your dentist, your dentist cannot help you.

Perio Therapy is a brand of mouthwash that utlizes the power of oxygen to help kill the bacteria that can cause bad breath and gum disease.

You also have responsibility yourself. You should consider the need to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially after meals. You may need to consider flossing. The use of an oral irrigator would not hurt either. A lot of people underestimate the importance of flossing. However, it is a powerful weapon in the battle against gum disease.

How can you tell if you might have gum disease? First, check for blood when you brush and floss. That can be a first sign of gingivitis. Red gums, swollen gums, and sore, tender gums are signs as well.

This article is for informational purposes only. If you have gum disease or any other health condition, please visit your periodontist or physician for proper advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Receding gums, also known as gingival recession is a very common problem targeting especially middle aged males and females. It is easily defined as the loss of tissue (mucosal) over the jaw bone, which may manifest in root exposure.

What causes the gum recession?- Over aggressive tooth brushing is one cause of receding gums because of the gum line and enamel corrosion caused by the harsh motions and pressure of the brush bristles.

Inadequate oral hygiene may lead to serious bacterial accumulation which also leads to the break-down of bone and teeth enamel. For the gums, gum disease or periodontal disease is the problem to avoid. 

Symptoms- The symptoms vary from discomfort, pain, inflammation and irritation in the gum area to profound root exposure, sensitivity and gum line caries.

Treatment options- Start your treatment routine through prevention. Modern dentistry presently has no known cures for receding gums except gum grafts which may not suit everyone. Cut your chance of developing the problem by at least half by simply practicing good, daily oral hygiene – with gentle brushing

Natural Treatment Options- Some natural treatment options are available in your garden or kitchen to treat the symptoms associated with the problem effectively while also being very affordable. For gum disease you could try essential oils such as ora-md which contains the natural oils of almond, peppermint and spearmint.

Sage herb has incredible astringent properties to tighten the gum areas gently while also relieving discomfort and pain generally associated with the recession. Add a couple of sage leaves to boiling water, strain and rinse the affected areas of the mouth twice daily.

Tea tree oil has both anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties thus not only treating but also preventing the problem by preventing bacteria build-up. Add a couple of drops oil to warm water, rinsing the affected areas no more than twice daily.

Medical advice- It is essential to seek medical advice from a general practitioner or dentist should the pain, discomfort or any of the mentioned symptoms worsen. Your physician should give the OK or preferably recommend any treatment for the problem.

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The kind of plaque that forms in the arteries that feed the heart have been found to contain the same kind of bacteria that cause gum disease in the mouth. Now, if this isn’t an eye opener, I’m not sure what is. This research is not conclusive, I should add. But, it does point to the possible relationship between the two diseases.

Other studies have shown an elevated risk of heart disease in those who have gum disease. Therefore, while we can not say the correlation is exact, there seems to be enough evidence to show that the presence of diseased gum tissue may contribute to your chances of having a heart attack. Ok, I hope that got your attention.

Now, couple that information with the notion that a large part of the population suffers from gum disease. You can look up your own statistics on that, they vary quite a bit. But even the smallest numbered statistics are alarming. If you think about it, doesn’t it mean that mere brushing and flossing may not be enough to protect you against gum disease?

If you ask me, I would have to say it probably does indicate that. This is a frightening thought. Most of us have been trained from the formative years to brush and floss. But what if it really has never been enough as far as prevention goes?

I’m not suggesting you give up those activities – far from it! They are helpful in reducing the problems that we can face. I’m merely suggesting that they may not be enough.

There is more to defeating periodontitis or even minor gingivitis. If that were not true then the Mayo Clinic would not tell us that 95 percent of people after age 65 have some form of gum disease. Still think you are safe?

It’s really interesting when you come right down to it. There are different statistics out there on this problem, but one thing seems to be sure: A lot of people have it.

The funny thing is: An awful lot of those people don’t even know they have it. If you are not sure, you can get a diagnosis from a periodontist.

You can go to your regular dentist too, but often times, and there have has been a study that documented this, dentists don’t have the same focus on your periodontal health as periodontists do.

Therefore, regardless of your age and whether you think you have this disease or not, I suggest that you go and get checked. They will probe your pocket depths – that is the rim of tissue that surrounds your teeth.

By the way, another tell tale sign of periodontal disease is that you feel pain when they do the probing. That is a sign that your gums are inflamed, even if you are visibly unable to tell. When your gums are healthy, that probing doesn’t bother you at all.

When your tissue is diseased, it will feel as if someone is sticking pins into your gums! Believe me, I’ve been on both sides of that coin. When your gums are healthy, that probing doesn’t bother them… Keep this in mind when you go in to get checked.

Pocket depths: They should not be more than 3 millimeters – that is considered normal and healthy. 4, 5, 6, 7 and beyond is considered unhealthy and one sign of a diseased state.

So what can you do at home, in addition to your normal professional dental treatments and checkups to make your gums health again? 

Get yourself a hydrofloss oral irrigator.  With this device, you will be able to reduce the amount of plaque build up between office visits.This device has been written about twice in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

Next: Get yourself some therabreath mouthwash. It is oxygenated and pH balanced.Oxygen can help to reduce the anaerobic bacteria (the bad guys) in your mouth.pH balance can also make the environment less hospitable to the ‘bad’ bacteria. 

Periodontal disease or even mild gingivitis is no joke. Take action today.There are things you can do at home.  Any dental professional will tell you that what you do at home is critical.They can only see you a couple to a few times a year.They cannot realistically do the important work for you!

Armed with a little knowledge, you can teach your children how to avoid some nasty inconveniences in life such as gum disease and receding gums! Read on to gain valuable insight.

Gum recession defined- Before we can get to why gums recede it is important to establish what recession actually is. Gum recession refers to retraction or separation of gum tissue from alveolar bone and teeth. In layman’s terms this is called: ‘getting long in the tooth’.

What causes gums to recede?- Pressure on teeth and gums is a major cause of gum recession. Aggressive brushing by hard bristle brushes, unbalanced jaws as well as spicy and hot foods may all potentially lead to retraction. Bacteria produced by plaque on teeth and underneath the gum line has been identified as the number one culprit destroying gum tissue and in turn leading to gum recession.

Other possible causes – Nutritional deficiencies including a lack of Vitamin C is also a potential cause of the problem, thus daily, nutritional supplements may be helpful.

Signs and symptoms- In the initial phase of the recession, signs and symptoms may not be clearly visible. However there are a couple of very clear indications that a serious underlying problem may be brewing including bad breath, loose teeth, pain or discomfort, tenderness and bleeding gums

What are the available treatment options?- Unfortunately, there is no ultimate cure for receding gums except surgery which may be very intrusive not to mention painful and not recommended for all patients due to the fact that the problem may not justify surgery.

There are two options that in addition to getting your teeth cleaned professionally every two to three months can help. One is the HydroFloss oral irrigator. This device is something that many people, both professionals and non-professionals alike think is worth having.

You should also consider getting some therabreath oral rinses. These rinses have the power of oxygen in them and this can help fight bacteria that produce gum disease and bad breath. 

One thing is for sure, the battle against gum disease is a fight that must be fought every day. There is no ‘taking a day off’ This is especially true if you have already developed a problem that must be fixed. Now, that you have a little bit of knowledge, go out and defeat this disease or prevent it from happening in the first place. This is a danger to every person and every family.