Should I Treat My Gum Disease?

Gum disease, left untreated can not only be painful and cause you to lose your teeth, it’s also not good for your overall health.

Periodontal disease or gum disease occurs when bacteria collects in the mouth in pockets that surround the teeth. This bacterium can be kept in check by brushing and flossing when the mouth and body is healthy.

Periodontal disease has been found to be connected to systemic issues such as low birth weight babies, pancreatic cancer, respiratory problems and diabetes to name a few. Patients with periodontal disease also often report a sluggishness that disappears once the bacteria has been removed.

“We are dealing with an infection,” Dr. Judith Ko says from her Hemet,California dental practice. “This infection can cause redness, inflammation, bleeding, soreness, swelling and pain when untreated.”

There are other reasons you may want to consider treating your gum disease:

1.     The bacteria causes persistent bad breath.

2.     The bacteria eat away at bone causing tooth loss.

3.     The bacteria form deep pockets between the gum and teeth that causes bleeding during normal brushing and flossing.

4.     Teeth will shift as bone level recedes.

5.     Gum tissue will recede as bone level recedes.

6.     Teeth will move and shift.

7.     The biting function of your teeth may change.

So don’t delay. Get evaluated for the disease and begin the process of returning to health!