Gum Disease

At Family Dental Health, we understand that our Portland patients value their individuality. Every smile is as unique as the wonderfully weird person who wears it. That’s why we would hate for you to become just another gum disease statistic for the CDC – not to mention the devastating consequences for your oral and overall health.

Facts & Figures

Did you know that nearly half of the American adult population (age 30+) suffers from some form of gum disease? What’s even scarier is that your risk for gum disease increases with age – 70% of adults age 65 and older have periodontal disease. And even scarier yet are the serious health risks associated with gum disease.

Health Risks

Left untreated, gum disease can wreak havoc on not only your oral health, but your overall systemic health as well. Gum disease has been linked to and increases your risk for:

• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Birth defects
• Dementia
• Pancreatic cancer
• Neck & head cancers
• Tooth & bone loss

 

What does gum disease look like?

1. Poor oral hygiene habits cause an excess of plaque buildup on teeth and along the gum line, which eventually hardens into tartar.
2. Your gums may become swollen, red, tender, and bleed easily.
3. Tartar irritates the gums to the point where they begin to pull away from the teeth, or recede.
4. Deep pockets form between the gums and teeth, which become a breeding ground for the infection to progress.
5. Eventually, the tissue is so damaged that the teeth begin to loosen and fall out.
6. The jawbone will begin to deteriorate or atrophy.
7. The infection travels from your mouth into the rest of the body and internal organs, increasing your risk for serious health complications.

Gum Disease Treatment

Sorry to get grim on you, but there is a silver lining here – gum disease is preventable and treatable if caught in the early stages! Your individual treatment plan will depend on how far the disease has progressed. In the early stages, we may be able to reverse the effects and treat your gum disease with a few simple changes to your oral hygiene routine. We can provide you with products like mouth rinse and antibiotics that will get your infection under control. We will want to see you more regularly for periodontal cleanings.

If necessary, we use a treatment called scaling and root planing to clean below the gum line to remove the infection. If the disease has progressed to the point where your gums have receded and formed periodontal pockets, surgical treatment may be required.

Call your Portland Dentist today!

If you’ve noticed any of the above signs and symptoms, or have been diagnosed with gum disease and are looking for a compassionate and skilled dentist to help you get your gum disease under control, you’ve come to the right place! If you have any questions about gum health, or would like to schedule an appointment with your Portland dentist – Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health – give us a call today at (503) 977-3400.