……….Don’t bleed! Healthy gums are the foundation for your teeth, much like the foundation for your house. Healthy gums provide the support needed for your teeth to function as they should. Unhealthy gums can go undetected and to the untrained eye everything may seem fine, but progressive and often irreversible damage is being done!

WHAT ARE HEALTHY GUMS?

They are:

• Light pink in color
• Stippled, much like the surface of an orange
• Not tender or swollen
• No bleeding when brushing or flossing

Gum Disease (Periodontitis) is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. It is known as a “silent” disease because it is rarely painful, especially in the early stages. Bleeding gums is often the first warning sign of gum disease.

Healthy Heart Starts With A Healthy Smile

Gum disease can kill more than just your smile! Recent research has identified a link between Gum Disease and Heart Disease, and other health problems. The bacteria associated with gum disease can enter your bloodstream and threaten your overall health. Patients with gum disease often require specialized gum treatment. In our office, moderate to advanced cases of periodontal disease are treated with the revolutionary laser treatment called LANAP® (see the new technology section of our blog for more information)

KEEPING YOUR GUMS HEALTHY

Prevention and early detection are your best defenses against gum disease.

• Brush and floss daily
• Visit the dentist regularly
• Follow Dr. Shlafer’s recommendations for any special treatment needs you may have.

If you have concerns about the health of you gums, call us for a complimentary evaluation!

Periodontal Disease and Other Medical Conditions:

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum and tissues that surround and support the teeth. More than 75% of American adults have some form of gum disease, but are unaware of it. Risk factors for periodontal disease include:

1. Lack of proper oral hygiene

2. Sugar and acid in your diet

3. Poorly contoured restorations. (fillings or crowns that are food traps)

4. Tooth abnormalities.

5. Wisdom teeth still present.

6. Age

7. Family history

8. Lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, or stress)

The Mouth & Body Connection:

The American Academy of Periodontology launched an effort to educate the public about new findings which support what dental professionals had long suspected: infections in the mouth can play havoc elsewhere in the body.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection and all infections are cause for concern. Periodontal bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to major organs and begin new infections. Research suggest that this may :

1. Contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death

2. Increase the risk of stroke.

3. Increase a woman’s risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby.

4. Pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis.

Treatment of periodontal disease could range from multiple scaling and root planning appointments (deep cleaning) to traditional periodontal surgery (which can be quite painful) or a new revolutionary treatment for gum disease—PerioLase, where the patient experiences little to no pain, and with little disruption in a patient’s daily activities.

If you are wondering if  you have periodontal disease or are a candidate for the Laser Periodontal Therapy http://www.lanap.com/periolase.php surgery, let us know, we can schedule a complimentary evaluation with Dr.Shlafer.