Gum disease, more than decay, is the primary cause of lost teeth. Since it can be completely painless in early and moderate stages, many people don’t know they have it until they begin to lose teeth. Symptoms include bleeding gums when you brush or floss and loose or shifting teeth. If you’ve been told you need gum surgery, you will be glad to know that it’s possible to control gum disease with a variety of non-surgical methods.
Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke
The statistics are staggering. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. At that rate, afflictions such as AIDS or tuberculosis would be considered epidemic. Most dentists do, in fact, consider gum disease at an epidemic level. But the biggest consequence was believed to be lost teeth. Hardly pleasant, but not life threatening. Or is it? Recent medical research has linked gum disease, stroke, and heart disease. Since heart disease can be fatal, gum disease is obviously a serious matter.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports: “studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria can travel into the
bloodstream – straight to the heart.
Now the Good NewsAdvanced periodontal disease requires surgical treatment. Gum surgery is never fun, but it is almost always successful in controlling the condition, and it’s usually covered by common insurance plans. Mild periodontal disease can be treated with very effective NON-surgical procedures. Combined with improved dental hygiene, these procedures can virtually halt the spread of the disease. This, too, is usually covered under most dental insurance plans.
What’s So Bad About Losing a Tooth?
Accidents and other trauma may lead to missing teeth, but the most common reason people lose a tooth is gum disease and/or decay. It might surprise you to learn that losing even a single tooth can cause the other teeth to shift and move around, which makes it difficult to chew and affects your ability to absorb nutrients from your food. Other negative results: your face will change shape, often looking “sunken,” aging you prematurely. Missing teeth also affect your speech. Difficulty chewing may cause you to favor softer foods and more carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain. The best solution for missing teeth is dental implants. An implant can replace one tooth or many. They can be made to look so natural that even a dentist has to look hard to tell the difference.
Ascension Premier Dental
Calvin G. Bessonet, DDS, FAGD
13375 Highway 73, Suite I
Geismar, LA 70734
Prairieville, LA
(225) 673-6910
AscensionDentist.com
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