Dangers of Advanced Periodontal Disease in Houston

Periodontal disease can be a nasty thing to deal with, especially once it has reached the advanced stage. At this point, it can actually be of concern to your overall health, not just that of your mouth.

Periodontal disease is usually caused by lack or oral hygiene, but it can sometimes be attributed to certain medications, other diseases, and the result of an accident.

Nearly half of all Americans experience some form of gum disease, but many may not realize it if the symptoms are not very strong. Some Americans may not seek treatment until gum disease gets really bad, and that can be a mistake.

Why Is Gum Disease Such a Problem?

Since the symptoms of gum disease can be fairly mild early on, it’s easy to ignore them. If they’re stemming from poor oral hygiene, this means they will continue to advance unchallenged until they become a major issue.

Similarly, some patients who do regularly keep up with their oral hygiene may be experience gum disease as a result of some underlying disease like diabetes or heart disease. Some medications may also cause periodontitis.

Whether a result of poor hygiene and especially if the result of another issue, seeing a Houston periodontist as soon as possible is the best thing you can do.

In the early stages of periodontal disease, the periodontist doesn’t need to do quite as much to reverse the effects. In the case of gum disease as a result of another disease, they may refer you to see your primary care doctor so that proper treatment of the root cause can be administered.

If the early stages are unnoticed or ignored, they will reach the advanced stage, which brings with it far more challenges and difficulty in treatment.

Treating Advanced Periodontal Disease in Houston

The best way to treat periodontal disease is to get to the source: bacteria causing infections under the gum line.

This hidden bacteria is causing the gums to swell, change color, and become tender. And as the bacteria spreads further, it can reach deep into the gums to the jaw bone, which is a whole new mess to deal with if that happens.

The most common procedure for treating advanced periodontal disease in Houston is a flap surgery. For this procedure, the dentist makes several small incisions in the gums to peel them up like a flap.

This flap exposes the base of the roots of your teeth, making them easier to clean and scrape away the bacteria causing the problem.

In more extreme cases, it’s possible that a soft tissue graft may be necessary if the infection has caused significant damage to the gums.

Further still, bone grafts may be required if the damage extends to the jaw. Some tissue and bone regeneration is possible using synthetic grafts and other methods, but they are not always an option.

Ideally, it is best to treat periodontal disease as soon as it is detected. If you are experiencing the usual symptoms, such as swollen, discolored, and tender gums, a perpetual bad breath, or loosening teeth, see a Houston periodontist right away.

The sooner you begin treating periodontal disease, the more effective the treatment will be and the greater the chances are of reversing all the damage. Not to mention you will also save money and a lot of discomfort by seeing a periodontist early.

Nearly Half of Americans have Periodontitis. Do You?

Periodontal disease affects 47.2% of Americans according to a 2011 report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That percentage also includes 70.1% of Americans aged 65 and older.

That means that almost half of all Americans will experience gum disease in their lifetime. And that 7 out of 10 seniors will experience it.

That is a very high number, but it also includes all form of periodontal disease, from mild to severe.

Most people don’t focus too much on mild cases of periodontal disease in Houston as the symptoms are rarely debilitating and they can often subside with a little extra home care.

However, periodontal disease is a serious threat to people’s health. If left unchecked, it can lead to serious infections, abscesses, tooth loss, and bone infection.

Periodontal Disease Treatment in Houston

Houston periodontists pinpoint periodontal disease through a listing of symptoms described by the patient and a visual examination of the teeth and gums.

Periodontal disease is characterized by:

●     Tender, painful gums

●     Swollen gums

●     Gums that are discolored, usually purple or bright red

●     Loose teeth, or space developing between teeth

●     Pus around the gum line

●     Perpetual bad breath or a bad taste

These are the primary symptoms of gum disease, but it’s important to know that gum disease doesn’t always exhibit symptoms, especially in the early stages.

To treat periodontal disease in Houston, dentists will perform scaling and root planing.

X-rays are taken to determine the extent of the infection under the gums.

Scaling scrapes bacteria off of the teeth. The bacteria has gotten deeply rooted below the gumline and caused the infection to flare up. By scraping it out, your body is able to fight the infection.

Root planing smooths out the roots of your teeth. Any grooves or rough surfaces are prime areas for bacteria to cling to, just out of reach from conventional cleaning methods.

Once the bacteria has been cleared out and the surfaces are smoothed out, the periodontal disease should clear up on its own. Your Tanglewood area dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to fight off any residual bacteria that may be present.

Risks Associated with Periodontal Disease in Houston

There are certain risk factors that increase the chances of developing periodontal disease.

●     Gingivitis
This early form of gum disease can advance to full blown periodontal disease if it is not cleared up in the early stages.

●     Smoking
The chemical found in cigarettes weaken and damage the gingiva (gum tissue), causing it to recede. This allows bacteria easier access to the roots of teeth.

●     Diabetes
Certain medical conditions like diabetes increase the likelihood of developing periodontal disease.

●     Nutrition and Oral Hygiene
Certain foods, especially when mixed with poor oral care, can lead to periodontal disease. Avoid high sugar and acidic foods and drinks to reduce the chance of getting gum disease.

●     Poor Fitting Dental Implants
From crowns to bridges, poorly constructed and ill fitting dental implants make havens for bacteria to collect. They can protect the gum line, allowing the bacteria to hide from normal care.

Preventing Periodontal Disease

Taking care of your teeth at home is essential to preventing periodontal disease. But, so too is a visit to the dentist.

See your Memorial / Galleria dentist every six months for a visual exam and cleaning to check for and prevent gum disease. Every 12 months, you should also have x-rays taken to ensure nothing is happening out of sight.

Recognizing the Types of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease affects about 47.2% of the population of the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The level of periodontal disease varies throughout that percentage, however.

The highest percentage of cases would come from mild or moderate periodontal disease, which includes gingivitis. At these stages, periodontal disease treatment is significantly easier, but the longer the disease persists, the more difficult it is to cure.

For adults aged 65 and older, the percentage of affected people jumps to 70.1%, and many of them are at higher risk for severe forms of the illness.

Breaking Down the Severity of Periodontal Disease in Houston

Periodontal disease often starts out with gingivitis. This is the earliest form, but it may sometimes go unnoticed due to its relatively lax nature as a disease.

Sufferers may notice some puffy, swollen gums, or a little bit of blood after brushing, but it can often be treated with proper home dental care.

Sometimes, the disease has no symptoms at all until it reaches a more severe stage.

●     Aggressive Periodontitis
This form of periodontal disease hits quickly in patients who would typically be categorized as healthy.

The effects of it occur quickly, wearing down bone and tissue at a rapid pace.

●     Chronic Periodontitis
This is the most commonly found form of periodontal disease. It can affect people of all ages, but is more common in adults and seniors.

The gums progressively recede as bone and tissue degenerate and will often be inflamed due to a biological response to bacteria around the gum line. Pockets between the teeth and gum tissue form, providing a haven for bacteria to grow.

●     Periodontal Disease as a Symptom
Much less common, and usually starting early in life, this form of the disease is a symptom of a much larger problem, such as heart or respiratory disease and diabetes.

●     Necrotic Periodontal Disease
Often a result of an immune system disease such as HIV, this form of periodontal disease forms pockets of necrotic tissue inside the gums. As the gum tissue dies, the necrosis spreads to ligaments and bones.

Results of Periodontal Disease

When left untreated, periodontal disease can continually break down the tissue in the gums, causing teeth to become loose.

This may ultimately lead to teeth being lost.

If an infection is not treated, the bacteria can reach the bones of the jaw and infect them. This also leads to tooth loss, but the overall effect on general health can be much worse.

Periodontal Disease Treatment in Houston

A professional periodontist in Houston is trained to see the signs of periodontal disease and address them quickly.

It is critically important that patients see their local periodontist at the first signs of periodontal disease to receive effective treatment.

The later stages of the disease are much more aggressive and much harder to treat, especially if the disease reaches the jaw bones.

Bone infections especially require invasive surgery and occasionally bone or tissue grafts to heal. They can be very painful and slow healing. Catching periodontal disease as early as possible will provide the highest chances of success against the disease.

The Periodontal Disease Treatment in Houston

Periodontaldisease is a common ailment for nearly every walk of life and gender in Houston. It usually affects adults in their 30s and 40s, but can sometimes affect young adults as well.

Teenagers aren’t prone to developing periodontitis, though a milder form of gum disease, gingivitis, is more common. Men are also more likely to develop gum disease than women, though the root cause for the disease is almost always the same.

Identifying Risks for Periodontal Disease

According to the National Institute of Health, smoking is one of the leading risks for developing periodontaldisease in Houston. The chemical compounds in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products reduce the protective effects of minerals on the teeth.

Smoking can also cause the gum line to recede due to adversely affecting gum tissue. All combined, this leads to a buildup of plaque, which eventually leads to gum disease.

Other factors that can contribute to the risk of developing periodontal disease include:

●     Hormonal changes in females cause the gums to become very sensitive to changes, making it easier for gum disease to develop

●     Diabetes and other illnesses can contribute to the development of gum disease due to lowered immune system responses

●     Medications and other drugs can also change the physiological response of the body to increase risk of periodontal disease

Underlying Cause of Periodontal Disease in Houston

Though there are several factors that increase your risks of developing the disease, the root cause is always the same: hardened plaque.

Plaque is a buildup of bacterial waste that can turn teeth yellow and make them feel like they’re coated with a soft, but rough surface, rather than smooth enamel.

When plaque is not frequently cleaned from teeth, usually from being in a place inaccessible to toothbrushes and floss such as between teeth and under gums, it can harden to form tartar.

Tartar is more protected against standard at home cleaning, and can facilitate the spread of gum disease.

The best way to prevent gum disease is to be diligent about cleaning the teeth and gums, both at home and with regular visits to the dentist.

Treatment of Periodontal Disease in Houston

Fortunately, even if home care is not enough to rid of tartar and stop gum disease, there are treatments that can be provided by dentists in the Memorial / Galleria / Tanglewood area.

To get rid of periodontal disease, the infection itself must be addressed and cleansed.

Your Houston dentist may use x-rays to determine the extent of the disease and ensure it has not reached the bones of your jaw, which can have disastrous effects.

Beyond that, the main treatments are deep cleaning and medication.

Deep Cleaning

●     A deep cleaning of teeth is completed using scaling and root planing. Scaling scrapes the tartar from teeth while root planing smooths out the roots of teeth near the gum line.

●     Both of the deep cleaning methods target bacteria in their most concentrated areas, which are often out of reach of toothbrushes and floss. Once the bacteria is removed, the gums will be able to heal.

Medication

●     Most often, patients will receive an antibiotic after a periodontal disease treatment in Houston. The antibiotic(s) will kill off any remaining bacteria and allow the gums to heal after an acute case of the disease.

●     In some cases, an antibiotic gel may be applied. This treats the site of periodontal disease directly, and can help reduce the depth of periodontal pockets.

●     If the body’s own enzyme responses are to blame for the deterioration of gum tissue, an enzyme suppressant may be necessary to regulate it.

●     Some medicated mouthwash may be prescribed to combat early forms of gum disease or help maintain healing after surgery. It works just like regular mouthwash, but the antimicrobial medications in it will fight bacteria, even in some spots a toothbrush or floss can’t generally reach.