DENTAL HYGIENE REGULAR CLEANINGS PREVENT GUM DISEASE

By Gracie Rowell

Say cheese! What better way to the best smile, than learning more about dental hygiene and preventing oral disease? Local professionals have some advice to prevent gum disease.

Q: What is periodontitis, and how common is periodontitis?

A: Periodontitis or Periodontal Disease is a form of gum disease that attacks the jaw bone leading to potential deterioration. It is fairly common in individuals over the age of 30 in the United States. Durango Dentistry and The Center of Disease Control and Prevention say that over 50% of adults age 30 or older have or are in the early stages of periodontitis. This makes for a fairly common diagnosis, but it is preventable and typically resolves itself within months.

Q: What are some of the causes and symptoms of gum disease?

A: There is a genetic mark that can lead to the disease, but there are some factors that can be controlled. Some of those are smoking, poor dental hygiene, and medications that lead to dry mouth. Due to those causes, bacteria in the mouth will attack the gum tissue surrounding the teeth which leads to periodontitis. The symptoms include but are not limited to sensitivity in the mouth leading to swelling or bleeding, halitosis (bad breath) and the build-up of plaque and tartar.

Q: When is it time to see a dentist about bleeding gums? Who is at the most significant risk?

A: "As long as patients are coming in for their regular every six-month cleanings, they should be OK. If there is more noticeable bleeding, then come into the office ASAP. If a patient does have periodontal disease there is a specific deep cleaning that needs to be done and the disease will only get worse until that is taken care of,” said Abraham Sotelo of Durango Dental. Those most at risk for periodontitis are adults over the age of 30 that have poor hygiene habits and have regular stressors.

Q: How can individuals prevent gum disease?

A: Regular dental checkups help individuals prevent gum disease. During appointments, dentists and dental hygienists will inspect the mouth, looking for signs of trouble. Then, they provide a professional cleaning, which removes tartar and plaque from the teeth.

Q: How can dentists help diagnose and treat the disease?

A: Dental professionals are trained to recognize the signs. They can inform patients about potential problems forming or what to do if symptoms are present. With periodontitis, dentists could see the swelling in the gums, the bleeding due to sensitivity, or potential poor hygiene habits. “At the office, we use radiographs to see the bone levels and tartar build up to diagnose periodontitis,” Sotelo said. “We are also able to see if there is any potential bone loss.” As far as treatment goes, there are several options available. Topical or oral antibiotics, which can be a pill or a cream can be directly placed on the area of infection. If need be, there are also surgical procedures that can be done to take out any infected matter.

Understanding how to approach oral health can help prevent periodontitis. Those with concerns about gum health should seek advice from a trusted dentist. Periodontitis is a disease that can be tackled with medical expertise in a matter of months, but seeing the dentist regularly helps identify potential problems before they cause a patient discomfort.