Gum Disease

Please click on the topics below for further information about gum disease:

What is Gum Disease?
Other Causes of Gum Disease
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
Diagnosis
Treatment

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, (periodontal disease) is the single most common cause of tooth loss in adults. The gums become inflamed and the bone and other supporting structures of the teeth become infected.

Gum disease is caused by plaque, a colorless film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. When sugars and starches in the diet mix with plaque, acids are formed which irritate the gums. The gums become red, tender and swollen and bleed easily. Plaque, if it is not removed, hardens to form calculus (tartar) around the necks of the teeth.

Irritants in plaque can also destroy the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth. The gums pull away from the teeth and small pockets form between the teeth and gums. Plaque fill these pockets and it becomes impossible for you to totally remove the plaque. Eventually, the bone structure supporting the teeth can be destroyed.

During a dental checkup, the depth of the "pockets" between tooth and gum are measured. Unusually deep pockets create an environment where gum disease progresses.

As the pockets deepen, it becomes the plaque cannot be removed through brushing or flossing. The buildup of plaque damages the gum tissue.

In advanced stages, the tooth becomes unstable due to receding gums and loss of bone structure.

Other Causes of Gum Disease

• Gum tissue irritants. Gum tissue can be irritated by impacted food, tobacco products, alcohol, and the improper use of dental floss and toothpicks..
• Abnormal oral conditions or habits. Badly aligned teeth, poorly fitting bridges of partial dentures, defective fillings and harmful habits, such as grinding the teeth and chewing ice, can also cause problems.
• Unbalanced diet. Nutritional deficiency and the body's ability to fight off infection.
  
• Pregnancy. A temporary condition referred to as "pregnancy gingivitis" may occur due to fluctuating hormone levels.
• Medicines and drugs. Oral contraceptives, anti-epilepsy drugs, steroids and cancer therapy drugs may have a negative effect.
• Certain Diseases. The health of your gums may be affected by diseases, such as: diabetes, uremia, liver cirrhosis, anemia and leukemia.

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

• Flossing or brushing your teeth cause gums to bleed
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Receding or shrunken gums
• Pus appears between your teeth when you press your gums with your finger
• Pain when chewing
• Buildup of calculus or tartar
• Teeth that seem loose or that change position
• Changes in your bite
• Changes in the way your partial dentures fit
• Bad breath or a chronic bad taste in your mouth
• Sensitivity to hot and cold

Diagnosis

Diagnosing gum disease is done through an oral examination and mouth x-rays. A twice yearly oral exam and tooth cleaning is recommended for adults. At that time, a periodontal probe may be used to measure the depth of the pocket between the tooth and the gum tissue. The pocket depth measurement, clinical examination and x-rays help determine the precise location, extent and severity of gum disease.

Treatment

The type of treatment you require depends on how advanced your gum disease is. Treatment may include any of the following:

• More frequent cleanings. Bacteria may take up to three months to colonize into numbers able to destroy bone. Frequent cleanings can prevent this buildup.
• Scaling and root planing. Scaling is removing the calculus deposits from your teeth. Root planing is the smoothing of the root surfaces so that the gum tissue can reattach to the tooth.
• Curettage removes the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket. This helps the gum tissue to heal.
• Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of the periodontal pocket to allow easier access for cleaning.
• Flap surgery allows access to the root of the tooth for removal of calculus, plaque and diseased tissue. The gum is then secured back into place.

Please feel free to contact us for your oral health care needs!