How Periodontal (Gum) Disease Begins & Progresses

Posted on Apr 12, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Periodontal (gum) disease begins without obvious symptoms. This is likely why it is allowed to progress. Yet, even when gum disease is fully underway, the warning signs are often ignored. For example, some people assume that seeing blood in the sink when brushing is a sign they are doing a good job rather than a symptom of inflamed gum tissues. (It’s not!)

Acquiring gum disease is easier than you might imagine. The following is the typical process of gum disease:

•  Accumulation Of Oral Bacteria: Our mouths are a warm, moist environment. Every day, it takes in an enormous amount of bacteria. Bacteria is on food, lipstick, and even the toothbrush we use. Bacteria in our bodies, including our mouths, is a fact of life and something we can process – at certain levels. The problem begins when too much bacteria accumulate.

•  Plaque: Without regular and thorough brushing, flossing, saliva flow and diet, oral bacteria can reproduce rapidly in the mouth. Their accumulation over the course of a day forms a sticky film you feel on teeth. This film, known as plaque, can form in just the brief time between your morning tooth brushing and evening brushing.

•  Tartar (or Calculus): In about 48 hours, sticky plaque film can harden into tartar. Tartar (also known as calculus) is a hardened form of oral bacteria that attaches to teeth. Tartar will continually reproduce and amass as oral bacteria subsist on tooth enamel and gum tissue.

•  Gingivitis: This is the first stage of gum disease. At this point, gum tissue is under attack. Gums are tender and bleed easily when brushing. You may have an aching sensation in some areas and your breath will be frequently bad. By taking effective measures at this point, you have an opportunity to restore your gums to a healthy state. Halting gingivitis at this point is important to avoid its progression to gum disease.

•  Periodontal (Gum) Disease: At this level, the gums are inflamed and tender. Gum tissues will darken in color and begin to pull away from some teeth, exposing darker root portions. Your breath will be frequently offensive. As gum disease worsens, pus pockets form on gum tissues and teeth will loosen. Gum disease can lead to the need to remove some teeth. It is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss.

An estimated 47% of American adults have some level of gum disease. As devastating as tooth loss can be, research has been associated the bacteria of gum disease with serious health problems elsewhere in the body.

Oral bacteria can become bloodborne through tears in diseased gum tissues and has been shown to cause inflammatory triggers. This systemic inflammation has been associated with heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers, arthritis, diabetes, preterm babies and impotency. Yet, gum disease is one of the most preventable of all diseases with simple measures.

Re-examine your at-home oral care routine. Twice daily brushing, daily flossing, drinking plenty of water and limiting snacking, sweets and caffeine help to keep your mouth healthy between regular dental check-ups and cleanings. And, those check-ups are vital to keeping a healthy smile. During these visits, accumulated tartar can be removed and signs of early gum disease can be noted.

Good oral health practices can save you much in time and money by avoiding procedures to repair problems. Too, keeping a healthy mouth means you are helping to protect your overall health by lowering risks associated with oral bacteria. With proper care, you can easily enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.

If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, call 828-274-9440. As a specialist in all levels of gum disease, we can help you restore your oral health.

Prostate Health Connection To Gum Health Revealed

Posted on Mar 27, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

For decades, research findings have shown health risks related to the effects of systemic inflammation. This is chronic inflammation inside the body that continually simmers and can’t turn itself off. While this inflammatory ‘boil’ is not obvious, it has been found to contribute to a number of serious health problems.

Research has found links between systemic inflammation and heart attack, stroke, memory loss, arthritis, diabetes, some cancers, preterm babies, impotency and even Alzheimer’s Disease.  In their quest to track down potential triggers of internal inflammation, researchers have been taking a closer look at periodontal disease, a bacterial infection in the mouth.

Periodontal (gum) disease begins when there is an over-accumulation of bacteria in the mouth. As bacteria reproduce and thrive, they attack gum tissues and the structures that support teeth. When this infectious bacteria enters the bloodstream through weakened gums, it can create inflammatory reactions that can set into motion the potential development of serious conditions.

Symptoms of gum disease include tender gums that bleed easily when brushing, persistent bad breath, gums that turn red, receded gums and pus pockets that form around teeth. Because many people are unaware that these symptoms are so harmful, periodontal disease is estimated to exist at some level in over 47% of American adults. Thus, it is no surprise that gum disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss.

In addition to the health problems listed above, new research has shown a possible connection between gum disease bacteria and Prostatitis, an infection of the prostate. Like periodontal disease, Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease. Prostatitis causes a frequent urge to urinate and a painful or burning sensation during urination.

The connection between periodontal disease bacteria and Prostatitis was revealed as a result of a study by researchers at Case Western University’s School of Dental Medicine and the Case Medical Center’s Department of Urology & Pathology. They found that Prostatitis symptoms were greatly improved by treating gum disease, even when prostrate treatment was withheld.

In the study, all participants had moderate to severe levels of gum disease. Additionally, each had inflammation of the prostrate gland with higher than normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.

The participants were divided into two groups. One group consisted of men who were treated for gum disease. The other group received no treatment for their gum disease. Throughout the study, both groups had prostrate symptoms and PSA levels monitored but none received treatment for their prostate conditions.

At one-month and two-month marks, the PSA levels were measured in both groups. The findings showed that an overwhelming majority of those who were treated for gum disease had significantly lower PSA levels.

While these findings may help Prostatitis patients achieve better treatment results, the study reinforces how closely our oral health is connected to our overall health, even more than previously thought. Based on the study, just managing oral bacteria levels can reduce the risk of triggering inflammatory reactions in the body. In addition, we avoid oral problems that can be costly and time-consuming to treat.

Obviously, the potent bacteria of gum disease is nothing to ignore. As research continues to find links between it and serious health problems, we will share them. For now, take good care of your body AND your smile! If you have any of the symptoms associated to gum disease, call 828-274-9440 to schedule an examination. As a periodontal specialist, I am trained to treat all stages of gum disease.

If You Have Arthritis (RA), Your Oral Health Could Influence Its Severity

Posted on Feb 28, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As a Periodontal Specialist, I treat all stages of periodontal (gum) disease as well as have particular expertise in the diagnosis and placement of dental implants. Over the years, I’ve watched miraculous progress made in the development of dental implant systems, becoming a dependable, safe and successful alternative to dentures and partials.

Where I’ve not seen much progress is the nation’s understanding of the hazards of periodontal disease. Still today, nearly 47% of American adults have some level of gum disease. And, this is in spite of research findings that have found a correlation between the bacteria of periodontal disease and a long list of serious health conditions. Because of the inflammatory triggers associated with gum disease bacteria, it has been linked to heart disease, stroke, memory loss, preterm babies, diabetes, some cancers and impotency.

In early stages, the condition causes gums to bleed when brushing, bad breath and gum tenderness. As gum disease progresses, gum tissues darken in color and pus pockets form at the base of teeth. Eventually, teeth loosen and require removal. To no surprise, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among American adults.

Research is now showing a remarkably close connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gum disease. While the connections may seem unlikely, it’s been determined that gum disease and RA share a genetic likeness. Apparently, their clinical structures are similiar, primarily in pathogens, which are agents that causes disease or illness. Studies have noted that the pathological processes that occur in gum disease and RA are nearly identical.

While it has also been established that both conditions cause chronic inflammation in tissues that connect to bone, researchers have found that the two diseases also have a similar inflammatory trigger. The particular species of bacteria found in periodontally-compromised oral tissues and the tissues surrounding RA joints is nearly identical.

RA is a debilitating disease that destroys joints and is disabling and painful. RA typically emerges gradually, often beginning with morning stiffness along with weak and aching muscles. Eventually, joint pain emerges with sore and stiff feelings, typically found in the fingers, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, toes, shoulder and neck.

As RA-related inflammation worsens, joints become swollen with symptoms including fever, disfiguring of hands and feet, numbness and tingling. While there is no cure for RA, treatment options may include medications, physical therapy, or even surgery to ease the discomfort or slow its progress.

Like RA, gum disease causes pain, swelling, and tenderness. As it worsens, the associated inflammation can destroy the bone that supports teeth along with surrounding tissues. One study even showed a particular pathogen associated with periodontal disease could activate the same destructive process of rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been shown that, by treating periodontal disease in RA patients, RA symptoms often improve. It is suspected that this occurs because the system has a reduced burden of oral inflammation.

An exciting fact on the findings of past research is how oral health correlates so closely to our overall health. Hopefully, as more adults come to realize that the presence of gum disease can so greatly increase your risk for serious health conditions, there will be an increasing trend on achieving and maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Begin with your own oral health and a healthy body and share this understanding with those you love. Be committed to a thorough oral hygiene regimen at home as well as a your 6-month dental check-ups and exams.

If you have signs of gum disease, seek treatment at your earliest convenience. Gum disease will only worsen and require more treatment time and expense as it progresses. Begin by calling 828-274-9440 to learn more and ask for a consultation appointment.

Arthritis Patients Urged To Keep Oral Health In Tip-Top Shape

Posted on Feb 06, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As a Periodontist, I have spent my career seeing how destructive periodontal (gum) disease can be to the mouth. Imagine an infectious bacteria so potent it destroys gums, eats into tooth enamel, an damages the bone and tissues that support tooth roots.

To no surprise, gum disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss. It affects an estimated 47% of American adults yet is often ignored until symptoms become unbearable. Symptoms include gums that bleed easily when brushing, sore and swollen gums, gums that darken in color, gums that recede from teeth, persistent bad breath, pus pockets that form on gums at the base of some teeth and loosening teeth.

Modern research has found a link between the bacteria of gum disease and serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, memory loss, preterm babies, diabetes and impotency. The connection occurs from inflammation that is triggered when the infectious oral bacteria of gum disease enters the bloodstream through weakened gum tissues.

For people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), research is showing a strong connection to periodontal disease through the inflammatory triggers brought on by this potent oral bacteria.

Research has found that gum disease and RA share a genetic likeness. Their clinical makeup shows similar structures, primarily in pathogens, which are agents in the body that cause disease or illness. Studies have shown that the pathological processes that occur in periodontal disease and RA are almost identical.

Both conditions cause chronic inflammation in tissues that connect to bone. Yet, researchers have also noted that both diseases have a similar inflammatory trigger. Also alike is the particular species of bacteria found in periodontally-diseased oral tissues and tissues that surround joints in those who suffer with RA.

In another study, a particular pathogen associated with periodontal disease was found to activate the same destructive process of rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been shown that, by treating periodontal disease in RA patients, RA symptoms often improve. This is likely due to the system’s reduced burden of oral inflammation.

RA is a debilitating and painful disease that destroys joints. RA typically emerges on a gradual basis, often beginning with morning stiffness and weak, aching muscles. Joints that are stiff and sore follow, typically affecting the fingers, wrists, elbows, ankles, toes, hips, knees, shoulder and neck.

As inflammation from RA increases, joints swell and are often accompanied by fever, disfiguring of hands and feet, numbness and tingling. There is no cure for RA and lifelong treatment is required, including medications, physical therapy or surgery for certain cases.

These research findings show just how closely our oral health relates to our overall health. Hopefully, as more Americans become aware of how gum disease can increase one’s risk of serious health conditions, its prevalence will decline. With proper oral hygiene measures, including a thorough oral hygiene regimen at home, gum disease rates will drop.

Be committed to your oral well-being just as you are your heart health, prevention of cancers and your vision. If you have signs of gum disease (as mentioned above), call 828-274-9440 to arrange an appointment, and promptly. As a specialist in this field, I can assure you that gum disease will only worsen without treatment.