What’s Gum Disease and When Does it Become a Problem?

I sometimes feel that I’m harping about gum disease at the office and here in my blog, but I really do see it as a major dental problem for adults.

While most of us will experience it to some degree at some time during our lifetimes, credible estimates of the number of adults with gum disease run from 75-90%.

The good news is that gum disease is preventable, treatable, and if caught early enough, reversible. It’s what happens when it isn’t caught in a timely fashion that’s the problem.

To appreciate why time is so crucial, it’s important to understand that gum disease is progressive and is caused when unhealthy oral bacteria overwhelm the healthy ones, inhibiting your body’s ability to fight them off naturally.

Here’s a brief primer that I share with my patients to explain the two broad categories of the disease.

Gingivitis: This is the early stage so it only affects the gum tissue, not the underlying support structure and bones. The gums may look normal, which is why it’s called a silent disease, but over time you might begin to notice symptoms of infection such as redness or puffiness, a bad odor, and bleeding during brushing.

Periodontitis:It’s a more advanced gum disease where these symptoms become amplified. The infection spreads from the gum into the underlying bone, and if left untreated, teeth may become loose, eventually leading to tooth loss. Periodontal disease will cause the gums to shrink away from the crowns of the teeth and expose some of the roots, making the teeth look longer as well as more susceptible to root cavities.

There are certain conditions and times of life that can predispose you to gum disease, especially if you’re over age 40…

• a poor diet that is lacking in vitamins, minerals, calcium, and antioxidants which can help you to fight disease and build healthy teeth and gums
• lack of effective home-care routines and dental visits to monitor your oral health, systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer
• stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption
• medications that can cause dry mouth or otherwise affect your gums
• times of hormonal fluctuations including pregnancy, menopause, and male andropause
• outdated or ill-fitting restorations like dentures that rub your gums, fillings, crowns or bridges that interfere with your ability to keep your teeth clean, especially near the gum line.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, gum disease is preventable, treatable, and sometimes though not always, reversible. Those unhealthy bacteria that alter your mouth’s chemistry build up in plaque – the sticky film that you can feel on your teeth. This is a never-ending process, so unless you want this film to calcify, damage your gums, and spread infection, your oral hygiene campaign has to be equally relentless.

I understand that sticking with routines in today’s busy world can be a challenge, so here’s a simple 4-step program that I think you can manage.

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2-3 minutes. (Yes, minutes!) Brush gently and pay extra attention to the areas where your teeth and gums meet.
2. Floss! Get to the spaces your brush can’t reach between and under the gum line. If you don’t floss, it means more than one third of your teeth aren’t getting cleaned.
3. Get checkups regularly. I can spot gum disease in the early stages before you notice anything. A good professional cleaning will also remove built-up and calcified bacteria (tartar) before it has a chance to promote gum disease.
4. Call immediately for a dental appointment if you notice shiny, red, puffy, or sore gums, or a change in gum color, gums that bleed every time you brush, a metallic taste in your mouth, or redness around the base of your teeth.

The truth is that for most people, gum disease worsens slowly, and there’s no way to determine its severity without coming in for a detailed examination. Remember –  it’s usually the parts of your mouth that get the least attention that are most at risk.

About THE SCIENCE OF SMILES®

THE SCIENCE OF SMILES® offers affordable cosmetic and laser dentistry and gentle, compassionate general dental care in Pasadena, CA. Our office is conveniently located with extended hours to meet your needs. At THE SCIENCE OF SMILES®, we provide most dental services, from basic preventative care and general dentistry to specialized procedures, complete dental reconstruction and TMJ/Headache management. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to provide the exceptional, affordable dental care and personal touch that lead to lasting relationships. A smiling patient is our greatest reward and we look forward to keeping those smiles healthy, beautiful, and bright. Discover affordable up-to-date dentistry and a team who truly cares at THE SCIENCE OF SMILES®.