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Your smile is an important part of your first impression. Whether you're looking for Miss or Mr. Right, trying to impress a business associate, or just out in public, a beautiful smile is a great ice-breaker. Everyone is busy bleaching and whitening their teeth for cosmetic reasons. Without good oral hygiene your beautiful, bleached, white teeth may fall out due to periodontal disease (PD). In fact 75% of all Americans deal with some form of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the gums and mouth tissue. Eventually the disease consumes the underlying bones causing tooth loss. PD is responsible for most adult tooth loss. PD is classified by the stage of advancement at the time of the evaluation, and generally falls into three types:

1. Gingivitis is associated with red gums and bleeding while brushing or flossing. It is easily treated by a combination of dental care and home oral hygiene.

2. Mild periodontitis, additionally, indicates some erosion of the bone surrounding your teeth.

3. Advanced periodontitis is associated with significant bone, tissue and tooth loss, which requires immediate attention.

SYMPTOMS

1. Red, swollen, or receding gums
2. Bad breathe
3. Bleeding while brushing or flossing
4. Pus between the teeth and gums
5. Loose teeth
6. Ill-fitting dentures
7. Bite and jaw misalignment

If you bear any of these symptoms, visit a dentist for a diagnosis. After investigating, he will refer you to a periodontist, who will identify gum problems and make the appropriate recommendations.

CAUSES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

The leading cause of PD is plaque build-up, which forms tartar in 24 hours, requiring professional cleaning. Other causes of PD include: a low nutrient diet, smoking and chewing tobacco, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, genetics, improper oral care, clenching teeth incessantly and autoimmune disease.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE TREATMENT

1. Scaling and root planning involves removing the tartar from the tooth and adjacent area, and smoothing the root surface. Lasers may improve the effectiveness of this procedure.
2. Antibiotic medication can reduce infection.
3. Surgery invovlves pocket reduction, regeneration procedures, soft tissue grafts, or crown lengthening.
4. Dental implants are inserted to replace missing teeth and improve your chewing capabilities.

Research indicates that antibiotics can be a helpful addition to periodontal disease treatment, but the medical community is concerned about its overuse. They fear the development of resistant bacterial strains, which will not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics like peridix and periogard as well as natural antibiotics like colloidal silver reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth by killing bacteria, which can reverse gum disease, and allow the gums to heal.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND DIABETES

PD severity is linked to A1C levels, a long-term blood sugar measure. Studies show that gum disease among diabetics triples the risk of death from diabetic nephropathy or ischemic heart disease.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE

PD contributes to new heart disease and can exacerbate existing conditions. Oral bacteria enter the blood stream, attach to fatty plaque in the coronary arteries, and contribute to clot formation. People with PD are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.

A greater awareness by the entire population of periodontal disease and its link to life threatening conditions is essential to decreasing the incidence of these serious diseases. Brushing your teeth properly, flossing, and using mouthwash can prevent PD and put a smile back on your face.

www.consciousalliance.org
www.bio-medicine.org
www.dent.u cla.edu
www.perio.org

Learn more about this author, Anthony Stemke.
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