Many people think that it’s normal when gums bleed. Well it’s not! If you washed your hands and they started to bleed, wouldn’t you be a little worried?
Bleeding gums is the most common sign of gum disease (or periodontal disease) but others include: red swollen or tender gums, gums that have pulled away from teeth, a bad taste in the mouth, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and a change in the way partial dentures fit.
So you have some of the common signs of gum disease. Does it really matter? Yes! It is important to know that gum disease is considered a silent killer.
- Gum disease causes the liver to produce C-Reactive Protein, which is a better indicator of future heart attack and stroke than cholesterol.
- Dentists also play a role in identifying the 5 million Americans with undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetics are more susceptible to gum disease.
- Gum disease inflammation can quadruple the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and treating the inflammation could help stave off the disease.
- Pregnant women with high levels of gum disease are at high risk for delivering preterm low-weight babies.
75% of Americans have some stage of gum disease. Higher risk factors in developing gum disease include tobacco use, systemic diseases (such as diabetes, blood cell disorders, and HIV infections), many medications (including steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure drugs and oral contraceptives), crooked or crowded teeth, pregnancy, and genetics.
So what’s the good news here? We have a system and technology called Advanced Hygiene Therapy to get gum disease under control 98% of the time without the expense, time or pain of specialist surgery. Furthermore, we pride ourselves in providing complete exams during all your regular hygiene visits and sharing with you any instructions that will aid in reducing your risk in developing gum disease or detecting it at an early stage.