FYI: After being diagnosed with periodontal disease, bacteria, plaque and tarter (especially below the gum line) needs to be professionally removed to help control the disease process. The standard length of time between periodontal maintenance appointments is 3 months. That is the length of time it takes bacteria in the pockets to become destructive to the bone and supporting tissue. That's 4 cleanings per year.
While PerioProtect does amazing things, it does not take the place of a dental hygiene visit where bacteria, plaque and tarter are removed above and below the gum line. For some, the health of the periodontal tissue may be so improved with PerioProtect that periodontal maintenance can be performed every 4 months instead.
Now, there are also the infrequent cases of patients with extreme dental phobia. For those patients that are only going to come in once or twice a year because of the anxiety, PerioProtect definitely helps long-term. PerioProtect will not take the place of those missed visits, but it will slow down the effects of the missed appointments.
Next up: what the periodontal maintenance appointment entails and how it differs from a routine prophylaxis/cleaning.
There are a number of reasons why I would recommend PerioProtect:
1. It works!
2. It's pain free.
3. It's easy to use.
4. You can use it from work or home.
At first, I was a little skeptical as to how effective this treatment would be. I read all the published research. I talked first hand to dentists who had used it. I even looked into the studies they did that enabled the PerioProtect system to get FDA clearance. It really sounded just too good to be true. Then we tried it.
We first tried it on a few patients as a last resort before surgery with a periodontist. What I found was, the patients who used it, it worked remarkably well. Now, I would recommend it to anyone who has a history of gum disease! I have even prescribed PerioProtect for my wife.
Most people think of periodontal (gum disease) treatment as being painful and involving surgery. Actually, there are many effective and pain free options for the majority of patients that do not involve surgery. Here are the non-surgical periodontal treatment options we offer:
- PerioProtect, the FDA cleared, pain free way of treating gum disease. For more info on this, read my blog tomorrow and Friday.
- Laser periodontal therapy. This treatment offers me additional ways of treating gum disease without surgery!
- Scaling and root planing. This name actually sounds worse than it is! My hygienists use topical numbing gel for this. For most patients, that works great. On occasion, we have patients that request or even need local anesthesia to ensure their continued comfort. If you are just nervous about the procedure I can additionally provide you with nitrous oxide (laughing gas). And, for more severe cases of anxiety, oral sedation can eliminate your dental anxiety.
Our website has even more information on these periodontal disease treatments. Also, I will discuss PerioProtect specifically in the next few days. It is one of the most amazing things I have seen in dentistry in my 30+ years experience.
Since gum disease is a bacterial infection of the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth, leaving the disease untreated can lead to:
- Bone loss around the teeth
- Loose teeth
- Eventual loss of teeth
Here are some other reasons to treat your gum condition. Periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to the following:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Diabetes
- COPD
- Preterm, low birth weight babies in mothers with gum disease
All these health problems are linked to periodontal disease. By treating gum disease, you may see an improvement in your overall health as well, especially if you have a history of diabetes or heart disease.
Bleeding gums are not normal even during pregnancy. In fact, a sign of gum disease is bleeding gums!
FYI: During pregnancy the gums do bleed more because of the body's increased inflammatory response to the bacteria found in plaque. This is caused from an increase in certain hormones.
Why is this important? This early bleeding can be a sign of gum disease or pregnancy associated gingivitis. And, research has proven that gum disease during pregnancy increases the risk for a preterm low birth weight baby!
Years of research have proven that seeing your dentist and having your teeth cleaned during pregnancy are safe. In fact, regular dental care may help prevent complications such as preterm delivery or low birth weight resulting from the bacteria found in gum disease.
Dental exams are often neglected during pregnancy. If you or someone you know are pregnant, make sure to put your baby's health first by seeing your dental heath professional regularly. Routine dental care can easily help to prevent complications associated with gum disease and pregnancy.
Myth #1: Gum disease and having longer looking teeth are a natural part of the aging process.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Fact: Gum disease is a result of a bacterial infection in the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth.
In fact, with good homecare and following your dentists recommendations, most everyone can live a lifetime without loosing a single tooth to gum disease.
FYI: Gum disease can effect anyone at any time.
Bacterial plaque is the main cause of gum disease. There are many other contributing factors that can affect even those with immaculate home care.
- Stress
- Smoking/tobacco use
- Genetics
- Diabetes
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
- Puberty, pregnancy and menopause in women
- Medications
Take the
Gum Disease Risk Assessment Quiz from the American Academy of Periodontology and find out quickly what your risk level is for gum disease. Keep in mind though even if you rate at low risk, only a licensed dentist can tell you for sure if you have gum disease.
Bacteria that reside between the teeth can also cause breath odor. Most commonly this occurs in people with gingivitis or periodontal disease. To see if you have odor causing bacteria between the teeth do the floss check. Floss a few teeth at a time. Then, smell the floss. If you detect a bad odor, see your dentist.
FYI: Bad breath caused from periodontal/gum disease can be one of the worst smelling breath odors. In fact, it has a particular odor that we call "perio breath."
How can you tell if you have bad breath associated with gum disease?
- See your dentist! Only your dentist can determine if you have gum disease. We can treat the infection and give you recommendations for treating any breath problems associated with it.
- There could also be other problems creating bad breath from between the teeth such as tooth decay or trapped food. Only your dentist can pinpoint for sure the source of your breath odor.
Keep in mind, it's possible to have gum disease and not have any symptoms such as bad breath. That's why visiting your dentist regulary is important so problems can be caught early.
FYI: Bacteria in the tongue or mouth is the most common cause of bad breath. Bacteria produce Volatile Sulfur Compounds, which are what cause the bad breath odor.
Other common causes of bad breath include:
1. Garlic, onions and other strong smelling foods - If this is the source of your bad breath, try brushing your teeth and flossing after eating the offending food. Also, try CloSYS Mouth Rinse. CloSYS is quite effective at eliminating odors caused by food.
2. Periodontal/gum disease - If you have periodontal disease, chances are you have bad breath. Treating your gum infection is the first step in eliminating your bad breath. Long term, PerioProtect offers a great treatment for gum disease and keeping your breath fresher. CloSYS can also be helpful for controlling bacteria levels and bad breath caused by gum disease.
3. Post Nasal Drip - Unfortunately, breath odor caused by postnasal drip is difficult to overcome unless the nasal drainage can be stopped. The most effective treatment for this, besides controlling the drainage, is gargling and swishing with CloSYS on a regular basis (being careful not to swallow any). Also be sure to keep up with brushing your tongue and flossing.
4. Smoking- Unless you plan on quitting, there's no cure for a smoker's breath. You can use Xylitol gum and mints frequently to freshen your breath.
5. Systemic medical problems - From diabetes to liver failure, there are a number of systemic conditions that can lead to bad breath. If you suspect your bad breath could be caused by a medical condition, please contact our office or your physician so the cause can be determined.
If you feel you have breath odor, please bring it up at your next dental visit and we'll make suggestions to help you freshen your breath. No matter the cause, there are treatments or recommendations that we can provide.
