Dr Neil Zastre Inc.
# 307, 6051 Gilbert Road,
Richmond, BC
V7C 3V3
office 604-273-3415
fax
604-273-4121
Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease (gum disease) includes both gingivitis and periodontitis. Both conditions are serious and characteristic of chronic bacterial infections that affect the gums and bone supporting your teeth.
Frequent and proper brushing and flossing are the keys to reducing the severity of either of these conditions and the intensity of the bad breath that can result from them.
Typically gingivitis shows itself with red gums that are swollen and bleed often. Gingivitis is the milder form of periodontal disease and is usually treatable with professional assistance and good home oral care
Periodontitis is more severe then gingivitis and requires more intensive treatment. Periodontitis, if left untreated, can result in the permanent loss of teeth and may require surgical treatment.
Am I at risk?
Ask yourself the following questions:
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Do you ever have pain in your mouth? |
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Do your gums often bleed when you brush your teeth or when you eat hard food? |
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Have you noticed any spaces developing between your teeth? |
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Do your gums ever feel swollen or tender? |
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Have you noticed that your gums are receding (pulling back from your teeth) or your teeth appear longer than before? |
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Do you have persistent bad breath? |
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Have you noticed pus between your teeth and gums? |
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Have you noticed any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite? |
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Do you ever develop sores in your mouth? |
If you suffer from periodontitis there are some things you should know about the condition and what you need to do keep it under control
Periodontitis is characterized by the four following principles:
1. bacteria cause the disease;
2. the disease is chronic in nature;
3. we cannot remove all of the offending plaque for you; and
4. it is recurring and cannot be cured.
The fact that periodontitis cannot be cured does not mean that it cannot be treated effectively.
Regular or more frequent checkups are key!
The removal of plaque is essential as this is where the problem originates! The prevention of additional plaque buildup is paramount to keeping periodontitis in check. Bacteria in plaque irritate the gums by producing toxins. These toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response whereby your body actually turns on itself and ‘attacks’ the tissue and bone that support your teeth.
If left untreated your gums can separate from your teeth and become infected, this is the stage at which your teeth may loosen and need to be removed.
Your oral health is important to us and we believe that treating this disease should be done with the least invasive but most effective approach as possible.
Scaling is important and root planing may be necessary. Scaling removes deposits of bacterial plaque, calculus, food debris, and pus that may have accumulated in the infected pocket(s).
Root planing smoothes and cleans the root of the tooth so that the gum tissue may heal next to the tooth. How much work and how often it is required depends on each case.
We will do our best to provide you with the kind of hygiene service your condition requires but you have a lot of homework if you want to keep periodontitis and the bad breath characteristic of it, in check.
Limiting your risk!
By brushing and flossing frequently, you can help reduce the amount of plaque and calculus that accumulate between hygiene appointments.
Regular use of a mouth rinse has also been shown to help, provided that the rinse contains chlorhexidine or essential oils (Journal, October 1994). There are several options that fall into both categories but the most common is probably Listerine. Please be aware these rinses can help but are in no way a replacement for proper brushing and flossing.
Periodontitis does have a number of root causes attributed to it but whatever the cause, proper oral hygiene is the key!
Genetics, diabetes and certain medications have been linked as causes of periodontitis. Some of the known causes that we have more control over include smoking, stress (may result in dry mouth), clenching and grinding your teeth and poor nutrition.
Yes, cigarettes have profound and direct negative impact on the disease. Periodontitis has also been linked to increasing the risk of certain other conditions such as heart disease and also an increase in the frequency of pre-term, low birth weight babies.