Gum Disease
Don’t ignore bleeding gums
One common misconception that many of our patients have is that it’s normal for your gums to bleed sometimes during regular brushing and flossing – this is FALSE. Your gums should never bleed. If they do, it is a sign of gingivitis, or early stage gum disease, and you should schedule an appointment at Whalen Dentistry right away before the disease progresses.
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What is gum disease?
Gum disease is a common and dangerous infection of the gums that affects nearly half of the American adult population, while many cases remain undiagnosed. Left untreated, gum disease can have serious consequences for your oral and overall health.
What does gum disease look like?
- Poor oral hygiene habits cause an excess of plaque buildup on teeth and along the gum line, which eventually hardens into tartar.
- Your gums may become swollen, red, tender, and bleed easily.
- Tartar irritates the gums to the point where they begin to pull away from the teeth, or recede.
- Deep pockets form between the gums and teeth, which become a breeding ground for the infection to progress.
- Eventually the tissue is so damaged that the teeth begin to loosen and fall out.
- The jawbone will begin to deteriorate or atrophy.
- The infection travels from your mouth into the rest of the body and internal organs, increasing your risk for serious health complications like heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
What are the risks?
Left untreated, gum disease can wreak havoc on not only your oral health, but your overall systemic health as well. Gum disease has been linked to and increases your risk for:
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Lung disease
- Birth defects
- Dementia
- Pancreatic cancer
- Neck & head cancers
- Tooth & bone loss
Whalen Dentistry Periodontal Program
Dr. Whalen has established an outstanding periodontal program that has helped many of our wonderful patients avoid tooth and bone loss caused by periodontal disease. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, or have noticed any of the above signs and symptoms, Dr. Whalen and our team can provide gentle, comprehensive, nonsurgical gum care and soft tissue therapy to help stop the progression of periodontal disease and prevent tooth and bone loss.
Give us a call!
Take control of your gum disease before it’s too late. If you have any questions about periodontal therapy or would like to schedule a consultation with your Cornelius periodontist – Dr. Ryan S. Whalen at Whalen Dentistry – give us a call today.