Gum disease:
(aka: gingivitis and periodontitis)
Gum disease is the most under-diagnosed disease affecting the teeth. The primary reasons is that like high blood pressure, often there are no symptoms. Gum disease can still be present when pain isn't.
Some of the subtle symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums when brushing and flossing, loose teeth, and receding gums.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease can be divided in two categories: the first is inflammation of the gums around the teeth (gingivitis) and the second is a loss of the bone which supports the teeth most often accompanied by inflammation of the gums.
Gum inflammation
What are the symptoms?
- Bleeding gums
- Darkened, stained, yellowish teeth
What are the causes?
- Poor brushing and flossing
- Infrequent professional cleaning
How is it diagnosed?
- Visual clinical exam and measurements (aka probing)
Is it treatable?
- Yes and usually 100% percent reversible
What is the treatment?
- Professional cleaning, polishing and optimizing home brushing and flossing
Bone Loss
What are the symptoms?
- Bleeding gums
- Loose teeth
- Shifting teeth
- Receding gums
What are the causes?
- Poor brushing and flossing
- Infrequent professional cleaning
- Smoking
- When found in young age may be genetic
How is it diagnosed?
- Visual clinical exam, measurements and x-rays
Is it treatable?
- Yes and usually 100% arrested (meaning further bone loss can be stopped)
What is the treatment?
- Initial treatment with professional deep cleaning with numbing and optimizing brushing and flossing
- Additional treatment may be needed after a re-evaluation of the outcome of the initial treatment
At Making You Smile we are committed to prevention of gum disease through comprehensive dental exam and diagnosis, patient education and thorough treatment and prevention plan.
What does oral health mean for you?
The mouth can tell us a lot. It is a reflection of our overall health, whether we are sick or healthy.
Our mouths act as both an entry point and defense force against diseases. Many medical conditions manifest themselves in the mouth. Some health conditions can worsen our existing oral health issues.
Good oral heath ensures your ability to eat, speak and interact with the world without worrying about pain, or discomfort or embarrassment. Good oral health also contributes to your overall physical and mental well-being and therefore shouldn't be overlooked. Its goal is to maintain the health of the mouth and its different structures over the years through healthy practices, prevention, and treatment of disease.
There are 4 different areas that concern the health of the mouth:
A: The teeth
B: The gums and bone supporting the teeth
C: The skin inside the mouth, the tongue and lips
D: The joints and muscles which move the mouth
Some of the disease in each of those areas are:
A: Tooth decay (caries or cavities), malposition of teeth, tooth color problems,
missing teeth, teeth that don't come together properly (malocclusion),...
the teeth (periodontitis),...
C: Sores, cuts, burns, biting marks, cancer,...
D: Muscle soreness, jaw clicking, jaw pain on chewing, headaches, shoulder pains,...
Each of these four areas need tender and continuous loving care to prevent disease
and restore health when needed. We will explore these preventive care options to
help you optimize your oral health over the years.
Do you have questions about your oral health? Call us at 1-646-484-0197 in Manhattan, New York City or book an appointment via
ZocDoc.
