Gingivitis and Gum Disease Basics
It afflicts as many as nine in ten adults at some point in their lives, as well as teenagers and children as young as five or six years of age. Yet, many suffer from it without even suspecting anything is wrong.
"It" is periodontal disease, or gingivitis - in the minds of most dentists, Public Enemy Number one for teeth.
Only for the last 30 years have researchers understood that gum disease is an infectious disorder, caused by many different species of bacteria. But even today, there is no cure. Fortunately, we have learned a good deal about what periodontal disease is and what can be done about it.
Behind the scenes
The culprits in gum disease are the bacteria that thrive in the crevices between gums and teeth, accumulating in the form of plaque, a hard, colorless film. Plaque produces toxins that not only irritate gums and cause bad breath, but can eventually attack connective tissue, bone and teeth.
These crevices become "pockets" where the bacteria lodge and begin to erode the tissues that connect gums with teeth. If periodontal disease isn't checked, the pockets deepen. The havoc spreads. Eventually, the bone around the teeth and roots is destroyed - and the teeth soon follow.
Sounding the alarm
How can you tell if you have a periodontal problem?
If you have bleeding gums or if you have swollen gums, gingivitis may be the reason why. But mouth disease can strike silently, without any pain or obvious signs.
Any bleeding from your gums should be a tip-off. Make sure you're doing a thorough but gentle job of brushing and flossing every day. If bleeding persists, it's time to see your periodontist. Different people have different levels of susceptibility to periodontal disease, and some forms - including those that affect children and adolescents - can develop quite rapidly.
Not everyone who has gingivitis disease goes on to develop more serious periodontal problems. Some people manage to reverse the disease or stop the progress of chronic gingivitis when it flares up.
Until there's a cure, the fundamentals of gum disease prevention - regular professional care and careful brushing and flossing at home - are still the best line of offense for good dental health.
Ways to fight back
- Periodontal disease can be checked and often reversed with simple preventive measures: brushing, flossing and professional cleaning to remove plaque and stimulate gum circulation.
- If the problem has become more serious, the dentist may do what's called scaling and planing - deep scraping of plaque from under the gum line, and smoothing of root and tooth surfaces so gum tissues have a better chance to reattach.
- Promising new gum disease treatment is already on the horizon: antiseptic or antibiotic drugs placed at the site of infection. And new chlorhexidine mouthwashes that may help prevent the formation of plaque.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.
The Lowdown on Gum Disease
Dentistry has surely shifted its focus from cavity control, thanks to fluoride and early dental care. Now we are learning more about periodontal disease, and for good reason. These days, tooth loss is the likely result of gum disease.
Q. I used to come in twice a year for cleanings. Now the dental hygienist says I need more attention, more often. My insurer limits coverage to six-month visits. What's up?
A. First, we know more about diagnosing the disease and have come upon some very dangerous systemic relationships to other conditions. That is, if you have heart problems, diabetes, or you're expecting a baby, we'll have to watch you closer than the next patient. Ongoing treatment for advanced mouth disease (periodontitis), too, should be scheduled more often.
Q. OK. What will periodontal treatment cost? I want to keep all the teeth I have.
A. You'll have to contact your periodontist's office for specific pricing but to treat a light case of gingivitis - the very first stages of disease - is the least expensive. Deep pockets around teeth and apparent bone loss - a complex case - will cost more. Periodontitis that requires surgery, and maybe the services of a specialist, costs much, much more. A good argument for early gum disease treatment and prevention.
Q. When you're done with me, am I cured?
A. Periodontal and gum disease prevention is the best defense because nobody walks away from it. Unfortunately, periodontal disease is incurable. But with your help, we can keep it under control. So much of your tissue health depends on how much work you're willing to put in. There's nothing magical about brushing and flossing. You just have to do it.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.