How to know if you have gum disease

by Dr. Susan Maples

Q. Can gum disease affect my general health and how do I know if I have it?

A: Current medical research has helped us to understand the close connections between the health of the mouth and the rest of your body. For instance:

• Gum inflammation is a prime risk factor for heart disease, heart attack, hypertension and stroke

• Dangerous oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and migrate to infect your heart and other vital organs.

• Gum inflammation is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease,diabetes, kidney disease, colon cancer and osteoporosis.

• Gum inflammation puts pregnant women at risk of preterm, low-birth weight babies and threatens other fetal complica tions.

Your dentist can provide a comprehensive periodontal examination that includes: “pocket” measuring around the neck of each tooth, an assessment of the inflammation in the tissue, gum recession measurements, mobility testing, and necessary x-rays—all to evaluate bone loss and gum tissue breakdown.

Your exam may also include medical lab tests such as 1) Genetic tests to see of your body has a heightened sensitivity to inflammation, 2) Bacterial DNA tests to identify the specific bacteria involved in your gum infection, and 3) Blood tests for systemic or general inflammation (C-reactive protein or CRP).

Your dentist must also consider compromising health factors that may predispose you to an increased risk of gum disease.

Meanwhile, let me offer you a simple self-assessment tool that might help.

Periodontal Disease Self-Assessment:

Scoring: Yes=2 points, Occasionally=1 point, No=0 points

_____Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss?

_____Do your gums appear red (Do they match your lips rather than your skin)?

_____Do you suffer from bad breath?

_____Do you have any loose teeth or teeth that have shifted?

_____Do you smoke?

_____Are there areas on your gums that ever get swollen or sore?

_____Do you get food wedged between your teeth?

_____Do you see exposed roots at the gumline?

_____Are your teeth sensitive to cold temperatures?

_____Have you ever been told you have “gingivitis”, “bone loss”, “gum disease”?

_____Has it been more than a year since your last professional dental cleaning?

_____Have your parents or siblings lost teeth due to periodontal disease?

Score total points:

0-3 unlikely host of periodontal disease: learn more about prevention; 4-7 low suspicion of localized periodontal disease/ inflammation: seek consultation; 8-11 moderate suspicion of generalized disease: seek consultation; 12+ high suspicion of generalized disease: get immediate attention