All On 4 Specialists in Bellaire Talk About Periodontal Disease, PART 4

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at periodontal (gum) disease: what it is, how it presents, how it can be prevented and what treatment options are available for those who have it.

Welcome to the final installment of our four-part article series in which All On 4 specialists in Bellaire discuss periodontal (gum) disease. In an effort to understand what this disease is, how it destroys our oral health and what can be done to recognize and treat it; we have been talking to the dental healthcare professionals responsible for mitigating the damage done by this terrible oral affliction. Thus far, we have defined periodontitis, explained how it works at the microscopic level, looked at its signs and symptoms and how one might go about preventing it. In this article, the final installment of the series, we will explain the various treatment options available to patients.

What are the Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease?

One of the biggest problems associated with gum disease is that it doesn’t tend to cause people much pain or discomfort in its beginning stages. For this reason, it can be happily ignored for many years before one realizes they have a serious problem on their hands. A simple visit to the dentist would reveal this, but most people have the bad habit of only going for an appointment when something is wrong. If you don’t know that you have gingivitis or would rather ignore a bit of gum inflammation and bleeding than seek professional attention, your oral problems could be left to progress and worsen.

“I’ve noticed that my gums look a little redder, but they aren’t sore so it can’t be anything serious.”

“My gums bleed a little when I brush and especially when I floss, but they’ve done that for years, so I guess mine are a little weaker than most peoples’. I just don’t floss anymore.”

“My teeth don’t look all that good anymore, but I’m terrified of the dentist. If they start hurting I’ll seek professional attention... not a day before!”

All of these attitudes are terrible to have and tend to be consistent with those who are affected by gum disease. Your first step in dealing with periodontitis is the effort to prevent it, which requires regular scheduled appointments with the dentist and oral hygienist. If it’s too late for that, there are various treatment options available. Do note that the longer you ignore your oral problems, the more invasive, painful and expensive these treatment options become!

Non-Invasive Treatment: Gingivitis can quite easily be treated by improving your oral hygiene practices and by visiting the dentist and oral hygienist. Quitting smoking, improving eating habits and reducing alcohol intake will also vastly improve your oral health. For fully-fledged periodontitis, you could get away with treating it using a course of anti-biotic medication and with a strong anti-bacterial mouthwash.

Surgical Treatment: For advanced cases of periodontal disease, surgical treatment is often necessary. In order to eliminate diseased tissue and the accumulation of bacteria, infection and other nasty debris from beneath the gum line, a periodontist (gum specialist) will need to use invasive methods that might include laser therapy and deep root scaling and planing. The specialist may then apply a microbial paste directly to the affected regions before suturing your gums back up. Sound painful? You’ll be anesthetized, but it’s far from a walk in the park. This is why prevention is always better than cure!

If you’ve lost teeth as a result of gum disease, you should book an appointment with a dental implants specialist to have them replaced.

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All On Four Dental Implants Specialists Talk About Periodontal Disease, PART 3

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at periodontal (gum) disease: what it is, how it presents, how it can be prevented and what treatment options are available for those who have it.

Welcome back to our four-part article series in which All On Four dental implants specialists discuss periodontal (gum) disease, its signs and symptoms and what we can do to prevent this frightfully common oral affliction. In our previous post, we took a look at the mouth under the microscope in an effort to better understand the mechanisms of periodontitis. In this article, the third installment of the series, we will be listing the symptoms of gum disease before addressing what can be done to prevent it.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease?

In the beginning stages of periodontitis, gingivitis, you may notice one or more of the following:

• Red and inflamed gums,
• Swollen, fleshy and angry-looking gums, especially visible between the teeth,
• Chronic bad breath,
• A bad taste in your mouth that comes back soon after brushing,
• Gums that tear and bleed easily when brushing, flossing and eating crunchy foods.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis at which stage the symptoms (in addition to those mentioned above) can include:

• Gums that have receded unnaturally from the crowns of the teeth, causing your smile to appear “toothy”,
• Oral sores and lesions that don’t heal,
• Pus that wells up from under the gums,
• Visible accumulations of plaque and tartar on and between the crowns of the teeth,
• Tooth discoloration and a brown mottling of the gums, especially at the margins,
• Teeth that feel loose,
• Ultimately, tooth loss.

“Never ignore any of these signs and symptoms,” urge dental implant specialists in Houston. “In spite of the damage gum disease is capable of doing, it doesn’t typically cause patients pain, so do make sure that you pay attention to the visible health of your teeth and gums. Your gums should look pink and they should never bleed when you brush or floss them.”

How Can You Prevent Periodontal Disease?

The great thing about periodontal disease is that it is completely preventable. Even if you have a family history and fall within a high-risk bracket for this condition, there are measures you can take to keep your teeth and gums in excellent lifelong condition. Most importantly, you must maintain a rigorous home oral hygiene routine that includes regular and thorough brushing, flossing and rinsing. You could even make use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash to really keep your mouth fresh and clean after daytime snacks.

You must also go for regularly scheduled check-ups with your dentist and cleanings with an oral hygienist. It is recommended that you do so twice a year. Habits to avoid or seek treatment for include:

• Tobacco-use: Smoking and chewing tobacco is known to cause gum disease,
• Excessive drinking,
• Drug-abuse,
• Eating disorders,
• A diet that is high in sugar and starchy foods.

Also, always ask your doctor about the side effects of any chronic medications you may be on. Some are known to cause “dry mouth”, which can leave you at a greater risk of oral bacterial infection. Hormonal fluctuations, such as those experienced during menopause or pregnancy, need to be handled with additional oral hygiene measures and care.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

Stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series in which dental implant in Houston specialists explain the various treatment options available to those who suspect that they may have gum disease.

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All On 4 Implants Specialists Talk about Periodontal Disease, PART 2

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at periodontal (gum) disease: what it is, how it presents, how it can be prevented and what treatment options are available for those who have it.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on periodontal (gum) disease! In our previous post, All On 4 implants specialists - the healthcare professionals responsible for mitigating the damage done by this disease - explained to us exactly what periodontitis is and the various risk factors that leave one more susceptible to it. In this article, the second installment of the series, we will be taking a closer look at the mouth under the microscope so that we can understand the exact mechanisms of periodontitis.

Your Mouth Under the Microscope

At any given moment, there are literally billions of microorganisms crawling all over every surface of your mouth. Collectively, these bacteria (alive and dead, as well as their wastes) are visible as plaque or, when it has been left to harden, as tartar. Bacteria feast upon the food debris, sugary residues and dead tissues that - at the microscopic level - are so abundant in your mouth. Just like any other animal on the planet, they then produce wastes that are quite acidic and this irritates the gums and erodes dental enamel, leading to cavities. The accumulation of these wastes, which are high in sulfurous compounds, is what gives us halitosis (bad breath) when we haven’t brushed our teeth for a while.

Regular and thorough brushing, flossing and rinsing help to minimize the numbers of bacteria and the pile-ups of their wastes in our mouth. This, in turn, eliminates bad breath and prevents gum irritation and inflammation and the risk of cavities. Poor oral hygiene and the various factors that impede saliva production (your body’s natural defense against oral bacteria) therefore increase our risk of succumbing to these problems.

For example:

• Smoking and alcohol impede saliva production and thicken the blood, which slows the natural healing process and our immunity to infection. Alcoholic beverages also tend to be acidic and full of sugar and this erodes dental enamel and encourages bacteria respectively.

• Certain medications, such as anti-histamines and heart disease drugs, can cause “dry mouth”.

• Certain illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases) share a relationship with the oral bacteria that cause inflammation and periodontitis.

When Bacteria are Left to Proliferate...

These microorganisms populate the tiny spaces between the teeth and the tooth roots and the surrounding gum tissue, where brushing and flossing is ineffectual in removing them. Deep pockets of bacteria and their wastes subsequently accumulate; which deteriorates the health of the teeth, irritates and inflames the gums, causes infection and can eventually lead to tooth loss. Houston dentures and dental healthcare specialists measure the severity of gum disease based upon the depth of the periodontal pockets surrounding the teeth (see diagram above). The deeper the pockets, the more progressed the disease and the more likely a patient is to suffer tooth loss at some imminent stage, if they haven’t already.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this four-part article series in which All On 4 Implants specialists discuss the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease as well as how you can go about protecting yourself against this terrible oral affliction.

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Denture Implants Specialists in Houston Texas Talk about Periodontal Disease, PART 1

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at periodontal (gum) disease: what it is, how it presents, how it can be prevented and what treatment options are available for those who have it.

Just the words “periodontal disease” sound quite exotic and frightening... like a rare condition you can only pick up from the monkeys hanging around outside some Buddhist temple in the virginal jungles of Southeast Asia. But periodontal disease is shockingly common amongst Americans. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, 85% of the population has it, which means that if you’re standing in an elevator with 9 other people, there’s a very good chance you are one of those affected! Periodontal disease is perhaps better known as gum disease and its prevalence in our society is testament to the fact that most people simply don’t know how to look after their teeth properly.

In this four-part article series, specialists of denture implants in Houston Texas will help us achieve a much greater understanding of the disease responsible for the loss of millions of teeth every year in our country. We will be looking at the answers to questions ranging from “what is periodontal disease” and “what are its causes?” to “how can I prevent it?” and “what are the treatment options available.” Remember, when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums, and therefore the natural beauty of your smile, prevention is always better than cure, so the focus of this article series will be on understanding how to prevent gum disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal or gum disease is an advanced (severe) bacterial infection of the gums surrounding the teeth and the underlying jawbone tissue - peri means “around” and dontal means “of the teeth”. Gum disease begins as a mild infection of the gums, at which stage it is referred to as gingivitis. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this common condition can lead to a slew of terrible symptoms including gum recession and rampant tooth loss.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is caused by the unchecked activity of oral bacteria. Therefore, any behavior, habit or neglect that fosters an environment favorable for bacterial growth can leave you at a heightened risk of infection and disease. “Poor oral hygiene, smoking, excessive drinking, certain medications, certain chronic illnesses, a diet high in sugar and starch and not seeing your dentist and oral hygienist for regular scheduled appointments are all risk factors for gum disease,” explain denture implant dentists in Houston Texas, the professionals responsible for mitigating the damage done by this condition.

Other factors out of your control, such as your genetic heritage, hormonal fluctuations and even your gender can leave you at a higher risk of gum disease! If you have a family history of this condition, are male or are experiencing hormonal instability (pregnancy or menopause) it’s imperative that you take extra care of your teeth and gums and seek regular professional dental healthcare. Preventing gum disease and tooth loss is a lifelong endeavor that requires effort and attention.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the next installment of this four-part article series in which All On 4 Implant specialists will be explaining the exact mechanisms of periodontitis as viewed at the microscopic level.

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