No Front Teeth Because Of “Gum Problems?” Say It Ain't So!

To make a long story short, periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is characterized by advancing bone loss around the roots of the teeth accompanied by unhealthy gums. It is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) estimates that approximately three out of four Americans have some form of oral gum disease-that's at least 225 million people in the U.S. - but only three percent seek treatment for their condition. And, according to the World Health Organization, 85% of the world's adult populations, about 5 billion people, suffer from some form of periodontal problems.  Periodontal disease is more prevalent in older-aged groups than in younger-aged groups, which may be the result of cumulative tissue destruction throughout a lifetime. Wikipedia.org testifies that periodontitis is caused over a period of time by masses of anaerobic bacteria under the gums, along with the overly aggressive immune response from the body against these microorganisms. Gum disease should be taken seriously. It has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, erectile issues, diabetes, and other maladies, because bacteria in the area of severely infected and ulcerated gums find an opening and can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.

Uncontrolled stress, poor oral hygiene practices, poor diet, the use of certain medications that restrict the flow of protective saliva, illnesses like cancer and AIDS and the medicines used to treat them, genetic factors, alcohol abuse, and smoking are all contributory factors that have been shown to greatly increase one's chances of developing periodontal disease.

Symptoms of gum disease include, but are not limited to, bad breath that won't go away, bleeding gums, red, swollen, and tender gums, sensitive teeth, loose teeth, and receding gums. Pathognomonic clinical signs of gum disease are 1) bone loss that can be visualized by an x-ray and 2) pocket depths around the teeth of 4 or more millimeters.

The main goal in treating gum disease is controlling the chronic infection. The type of treatment needed will depend on how pervasive the gum problem is in the mouth. Simple cleanings with minimal scaling and fluoride treatments will do the job in patients with minimal problems. Deep-cleaning treatments called scaling and root planning, along with flap surgeries, and laser procedures may be indicated in more severe cases. Oral and topical antibiotics may also be employed to fight the infection.

But, watch this: effective daily flossing frequently rids the disease-causing bacteria present, of an available food source. Masticatory food flow patterns act to press masticated food under the gums and between the teeth, and for that matter, all over the oral landscape. Don’t let small pools of left food stay in the mouth long.

See your family dentist regularly whether you have gum problems or not. He or she can help you to achieve better oral and physical health and stay that way.

May you have many…give me my teeth back, prevention is better than cure, unswollenly sweet… smiles!