speaking GUM DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
February has officially been nominated as “Gum Disease Awareness Month” in an effort to make the public aware of the threat and epidemic nature of Dr. Preety Desai the disease. Gum disease is one of the most common diseases in the world not only Canada and I have long written and discussed about the elevated risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and inflammatory diseases! The repercussions are very severe including the silent loss of teeth but heightened risks for the aforementioned health issues. Good news though, gum disease can be treated in every patient. Treatments range from regular check-ups to conventional gum surgery, with laser pocket or flap treatment with a periodontist as the more comfortable and patient-friendly alternative in one off procedures. Monitoring after treatment on a regular basis though is the rate determining factor of success in keeping your teeth. Today’s thinking, which is a paradigm shift, is that gum disease is NO LONGER an infectious disease caused by pathogens alone (antibiotics are no longer a viable option) but rather an inflammatory disease which should be treated mostly by prevention and controlling quantities of local factors (ie calculus and tartar). Twenty-one states in the US have already adopted Gum Disease Awareness Month in order to educate their citizens about the widespread health threat of gum disease and the importance of prevention and treatment. Mounting independent research links gum disease to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, pre-term and still births as well as certain cancers. Over 85% of adults suffer from some degree of gum disease, but saddest thing is fewer than half are diagnosed. Often symptoms of gum disease are ignored until the disease is in advanced stages, when tooth loss is common. Signs of gum disease are very silent and insidious ... bad breath, occasional bleeding gums, food impaction between your teeth, gum recession is the most common, reduced strength of biting and less chewing force on meat and vegetables, spreading of teeth and root sensitivity. High risk individuals: pubertal females and hormonal women, diabetics, genetics, people with thin gums, lack of care & brushing & flossing, immunocompromised (lupus, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis) patients, cancer patients, dry mouth from medications, down’s syndrome, smokers, wisdom tooth impaction removal sites adjacent to other teeth. ABOUT GUM DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH: It is aimed at helping people make lifelong improvements in their health and quality of life by sharing information and spreading awareness of the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and the numerous treatment options available against gum disease. The key message is to encourage people to take an active role in prevention, recognizing risk factors, seeking a diagnosis early and properly by a periodontist and seeking appropriate customized treatment -- the initiative is supported by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidencebased clinical training in laser dentistry therapies. For more information, visit: www.fightgumdisease.com or my web site, www.kamloopsperiodontist.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqLllLLTdUw
t. 778.471.6001
a. 101-775 McGill Rd, Kamloops
www.kamloopsperiodontist.com