Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the most common infections today. More than 75% of North Americans over 35 years of age have some form of periodontal disease. Although many are infected, few know they actually have the disease. In a recent study, 8 out of 10 people surveyed believed they did not have periodontal disease, 7 out of 10 exhibited one or more symptoms.
Gingivitis (gums disease) and periodontitis (gums and bone disease) are the two main forms of periodontal disease, also called gum disease, or pyorrhea.
What is Gum Disease and How is it Treated?
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is an infection of your gums that begins when bacteria accumulate at and below the gum line. Your immune system reacts as it would with any bacterial invasion. The process of inflammation starts and then the white blood cells start moving in to do battle with the bacteria. All this chemical warfare destroys the attachment of the gum tissue to the root of the tooth and can eventually dissolve the bone that holds your teeth in the jawbone. When bacteria sits undisturbed, it begins to mineralize and this hardened material above and below the gum line is referred to as tarter or calculus. This build-up of calculus irritates the gums further and is a great place for new plaque to form and cause more problems. It is a vicious cycle and is often painless until the later stages. Periodontal disease can have wide spread negative effects on your health, but the good news is that there are many ways to treat this very common and devastating disease that are more comfortable and effective than ever before!
What Are the Causes of Gum Disease?
Since no one can brush and floss away every bacterial cell from around their teeth, what is a person to do? The answer lies in the relationship to the immune system alluded to above. You don’t have to get rid of them all to have healthy gums because some are “good” bacteria and we can usually count on our immune system to keep the bad ones in a balance. When the “bad” bacteria get out of balance and get the upper hand, the gum tissue starts to detach from the root of the tooth. These are a few things that cause an imbalance:
- Bacteria building up below the gum line
- A weak or overburdened immune system as in a patient who smokes, or a person who is battling other chronic inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity (more than 30% of your body weight is made up of fat), cancer, etc.
- Stress
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Loose Teeth
Loose or shifting teeth are often a sign of advanced gum infections! X-rays are usually needed to see if you lost the bone that holds your teeth in.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums is an important sign that you have an infection! If your gums are bleeding that means bacteria is also getting into your blood stream and going around in your body!
Medications can cause bleeding gums, and it may not necessarily be a gum disease symptom. Medications such as aspirin, blood thinners, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), birth control pills, and some blood pressure medications are among those that can cause bleeding gums. It is important to also tell us about any medications you are taking or medical conditions you have.
Pregnancy can also cause your gums to bleed. When your body is experiencing increased hormone levels, the gums will bleed more readily when brushing, flossing, eating, or even spontaneously. Gingivitis is common during pregnancy and directly afterward when hormone levels are at their highest.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Halitosis can be caused by several factors, but the most common is periodontal disease. The bacterial infection causes gum tissue destruction and cell death (pus) and blood coming from the gums smells and tastes bad.
Temporary bad breath can be caused by foods that you eat. If you regularly enjoy foods with strong odors like garlic, onions, cheese, fish, or spicy foods, they may be the culprit. While brushing, flossing, or using mouthwash after eating foods with strong odors temper bad breath, it will not go away completely until they have completely passed through your system.
Your bad breath may also be caused by yeast infections of the mouth, poorly fitting dental appliances, dry mouth, chronic sinus infections, respiratory tract infections, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.
One of the most common causes of no dental related halitosis is constipation. Constipation is a condition that occurs when the food transit time has slowed down so much that and food that is eaten isn’t processed and digested before it begins to putrefy. If the production of gas occurs above the food blockage, the result is acid reflux and a gas odor that doesn’t go away with brushing and other oral hygiene methods. Acid reflux can also damage the teeth due to the high acidity. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence are all symptoms that occur when the gaseous production occurs below the food blockage…the gas exits at the bottom of the food tube. Read the book, Cure Constipation Now! by Dr. Wes Jones to learn more about how to recognize and beat this serious health issue.
Take the quick test to see if you are constipated:
- Do you have at least two bowel movements per day where the “product” is about 10 inches?
- The “product” should not have an unpleasant aroma
- The delivery of the “product” needs to be effortless.
If you can’t answer yes to all three, then you are constipated!
The Dangers of Untreated Periodontal Disease
Taking good care of your mouth does more than help ensure you have a bright, white smile. Having a healthy mouth and healthy body go hand-in-hand!
Pancreatic Cancer and Heart Disease
Recent studies have linked good oral hygiene with good overall health. Having a healthy mouth can reduce your risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease and pancreatic cancer. The inflammation that is caused by gingivitis and periodontal disease has been linked to these diseases. Bacteria that thrives in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body and can cause infection or worsen existing infections in many areas, including the lungs and joints.
Memory
Keeping your gums healthy not only prevents gingivitis and periodontal disease, but it can also help improve your memory, according to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. In a study done by the journal, adults who had gingivitis performed worse than those who didn’t on tests of memory and cognitive skills. They were more likely to perform poorly on tests of delayed verbal recall and subtraction–two skills we use every day!
Diabetes
Diabetes can make you less able to fight off infection, which includes infections of the gums. Some experts have linked uncontrolled diabetes with gum disease, suggesting that untreated periodontal disease may make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels. Having a healthy mouth will help you protect your overall health by making it easier to control your diabetes.
Pre-term Delivery and Low Birth Weight Babies
Some research suggests a link between gingivitis and pre-term, low birth weight infants. With 1 in 8 babies born prematurely, prevention is the key! Maintaining good oral health may help prevent premature delivery. See your dentist as part of your prenatal care. He or she will give you good tips and insight into oral health and a healthy pregnancy.
A Healthy Mouth, A Healthy Body in Childhood
It’s never too early to start teaching your children to take care of their teeth and gums–healthy habits learned in childhood can pay off in adulthood. If you’re tempted to shrug off your good oral hygiene habits–brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly — remember that you’re a role model for your kids!
Our Approach to Gum Disease
Good oral hygiene and regular dental examinations are essential in prevention and early detection of gum disease – which sometimes develops without any warning signs.
Once you have been diagnosed with gum disease, we try and identify the causes and recommend an approach that usually includes:
- Professional care: treatment, patient education, and training in self-care.
- Home care: Use of an automatic tooth brush and some cleaning technique for in between your teeth that must be done twice daily!
- Strengthen your immune system by reducing your system wide levels of inflammation: Details on how to do this can be found in several books written recently on the relationships of food to health and immune status: Super Immunity and Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman are great resources.
- Long term supportive care (hygiene visits) every three months.