Periodontal Disease

Diagnosis

Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease) is an infection of the tissues in the mouth. Gum disease forms a v-shaped pocket under the tooth in between the gum tissue and the sulcus (the piece of skin that connects the tooth to the gums). This drastic disease attacks the sulcus like termites, damaging the tissues and forming a deep pocket in the sulcus. .

The two major stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the beginning stages of periodontitis, and is known to be reversible and less sever than periodontitis.

Below is a list of potential factors that increase the risk of gum disease:

* Defective Fillings

* Smoking

* Chewing

* Bridges that no longer fit properly

* Some Medications

* Diabetes

Some Potential Signs that may signify Periodontal Disease:

* Bad Breath Gums that bleed easily

* Consistent Bad Taste

* Receding Gums

* Noticing a change of teeth position

Periodontal Disease does not always easily detected. We highly recommend that a dentist check for gum disease regularly, for it is possible that gum disease worsen over time.

Treatment and Maintenance

We highly recommend that you before you get to the stage of treatment, that you focus mostly on PREVENTION OF PERIODONTAL (GUM) DISEASE. The best way to prevent this sticky and invasive disease is to properly maintain good oral health and hygiene. As always, brush thoroughly twice daily, and best if you can brush after every meal. Floss consciously and deeply between every toot and gum line daily. Rinse with antibacterial safe mouthwashes. And visit your local dentist every six months.

If you develop gum disease, fortunately there are different options for treatment. There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments available. The non-surgical treatment prevents having to undergo surgery, and can often help clear up the gum disease. In many cases maintenance is required to treat and prevent further attacks. Surgery treatments are also available for getting rid of the pesky disease known as gingivitis, or periodontal disease. Please contact us to find out if you have periodontal disease and the options you have for treating it.

References:

ADA

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp

Perio.org

https://secure.perio.org/consumer/procedures.html