Sore or Bleeding Gums

 Sore or Bleeding Gums? Do I Have Gum Disease?

Do you have sore or bleeding gums? It may be the early signs of periodontal disease. It can include receding gums and the formation of pockets between the gums and the teeth. Once the infection gets beneath your gum line, periodontitis can destroy tissues, ligaments, and bones in the mouth that ultimately can lead to tooth loss. 

What is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis refers to advanced periodontal disease. With periodontitis, the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, creating pockets where additional bacteria can build up and cause an infection. Signs of periodontitis include: Pain when chewing, Poor tooth alignment, Receding gums, Pockets between the teeth and gums, Persistent bad breath, Sores on the inside of the mouth, and Loose or sensitive teeth

It usually starts with bleeding gums

Bacteria along the gum-line form colonies that grow deep between the teeth and gum tissues. This space is called the periodontal pocket. These pockets can quickly become breeding grounds for the bacteria that cause infection and inflammation. The earliest symptoms of infection are bleeding gums. Tenderness, swollen or red gums are also common. If these infections are left untreated, they can become chronic oral wounds that cause inflammation not just in your mouth, but in your body.

It can spread and lead to additional damage.

If not addressed properly, bacteria can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, leading to more dangerous consequences. Pathogens identified in gum disease have been linked to heart disease, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and other systemic conditions.

It’s more common than you think.

Over half of Americans have chronic gum disease. Chronic means the infection has progressed beyond gingivitis and bone loss is evident. At this point it cannot be cured. It can, however, be treated. Your dentist keeps updated records documenting the depths of your periodontal pockets. A healthy depth is 1-3mm. Any number above 4mm is potentially problematic. It's always best to treat gum disease in the earliest stages. 

There is an effective way to treat it.

Historically, patients have gotten deep cleanings or surgical interventions to fight this disease. They return to the dentist every 3 months for additional care for the rest of their life. This protocol has limited success. Often the deep cleanings need to be repeated every 3 years. 

An additional treatment regimen is available to help fight the spread of gum disease. It involves using a special peroxide gel applied directly to the gum pocket areas.  A treatment called Perio Protect can offer the an effective homecare strategy for assisting in long-term treatment success.

Perio Protect was developed to give you better results between office visits so you can avoid repetitive cleanings and, when possible, avoid surgery too. The patented Perio Tray™ Therapy from Perio Protect delivers bacteria-fighting peroxide deep under the gums. Not only does the delivery of peroxide fight infection, it also releases oxygen so that healthy bacteria can thrive.  Daily applications wearing custom fitted trays for 10-15 minutes have been shown to maintain healthy gums.   This in addition to your daily brushing and flossing routine can provide a significant adjunct therapy to help you with preventing the spread of gum disease.

Not only will your teeth and gums be healthier, but every system in your body will benefit from less inflammation.

Book an appointment with Dr. Aebli, a top Sanford dentist, to discuss this today.

Reference: www.perioprotect.com

Dr. Craig Aebli, DDS, MS, FAGD, has been treating gum disease for more than thirty years. 

Oakport Dental, Sanford, FL, 407-323-5340, www.oakportdental.com