Hey everyone, it’s Lisa, your friendly Registered Dental Hygienist.
Let’s talk about something you may or may not have been asked by your dentist or hygienist.
Do your gums bleed when you brush and/or floss?
If yes, then you have GUM DISEASE!
Now, don’t panic – let’s talk. Your mouth contains BILLIONS, yes billions, of bacteria! Some are good and some are bad – very bad. Our job as dental professionals is to make sure your teeth and gums are in the best shape they can possibly be for your overall health!
The science is out there, folks! Many published articles are now linking the relationship between gum disease to your overall (systemic) health. That means if you have a medical condition, you may be at a higher risk of gum disease.
Here are some examples:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Autoimmune diseases like RA
- Chronic kidney disease
When you don’t brush or clean in between your teeth with floss, picks, soft-picks, brushes, etc., those BILLIONS of bacteria make tight clusters of sticky biofilm that burrow themselves under your gums. They SLOWLY eat away the bone (periodontium) that holds your teeth in the gums.
That’s right guys – your bone is being eaten away! Spitting out just a little blood when you brush or floss should alarm you to give us a call for help!
Gum disease is NOT painful in the early stages but can result in bone loss and/or tooth loss when it is not treated in the early stage, becoming a SLOW chronic infection!
Treating gum infection is what your dental hygienist does every day.
Here’s the scoop – there are 2 forms of gum disease:
GINGIVITIS is a mild and reversible form of gum disease. Your gums may become red, bleed easily, and swell. You can treat gingivitis by seeing your dental hygienist and practicing good brushing and flossing. It’s that easy! If you have any limitations or really don’t like or can’t use floss, your dental hygienist can help. We are the gurus with dental knowledge and are here to help!
PERIODONTITIS is an irreversible form of gum disease. In addition to the symptoms of gingivitis, your gums will separate and form a pocket away from your tooth. Those billions of pesky bacteria burrow deep in that pocket destroying your bone along the way. If left untreated, you can lose your teeth! There are 4 stages (severities) of bone loss. If you have bone loss, your dental hygienist will help you understand the different stages.
Please call us at 610-942-3321 if you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Looking forward to meeting you!
P.S. Check out this post to learn more about what happens during your professional dental cleaning at Hughes & Hughes Family Dentistry – https://hughesdentistry.com/a-visit-with-you…r-gum-specialist/