Periodontal disease runs in your family. You worry that you may have it and that you could lose teeth and develop systemic health problems. Calm your fears because while gum disease pervades the adult population across the US, it can be uncovered and treated. Just trust the expertise of your Glenview, IL, dentists at Family Dental.

What is periodontal disease?

A progressive and potentially destructive oral health problem, periodontal disease attacks the gums and underlying jaw bone. Related to inflammation and infection from oral bacteria found in plaque and tartar, gum disease often has no symptoms. However, as it worsens it causes:

• Bad breath
• Bleeding, puffy, reddened gums gums
• Loose teeth
• Gum recession
• Bone recession
• Pain

In addition, various systemic diseases seem linked to gum disease--conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, dementia, cardiovascular disease and more. Your gum health definitely impacts your oral and overall well-being.

Diagnosing gum disease

Your Glenview dentist can see the signs of periodontitis on routine oral examination. Besides visual inspection, the dentist gently probes the gum tissue to measure pocket depth. Gum pockets are the spaces between the teeth and gums. A healthy measure is one to three millimeters, but anything deeper is diagnostic for periodontitis.

Also, the dentist does digital X-ray screening to view tooth roots and underlying jaw bone. This tells the doctor how extensive the damage is and helps formulate the proper treatment plan.

Who gets gum disease

The American Academy of Periodontology reports that many factors contribute to gum disease. Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common. However, there are others:

• Age
• Gender (more men than women)
• Stress
• Medication
• Diabetes
• Bruxism (teeth clenching)
• Poor nutrition

Your dentist in Glenview can help

If you have mild gum disease, or gingivitis, a routine hygienic cleaning followed by diligent brushing and flossing at home should clear up the problem. However, if gingivitis has progressed, your dentist will do a deep cleaning.

Also called scaling and root planing, this thorough, in-office treatment uses handheld tools and ultrasonic cleaners to remove deposits of plaque and hard tartar from between teeth and below the gum line. Your doctor may instill antimicrobial medication as well to heal infection and help the gums to reattach to tooth roots.

Have your healthiest mouth

Both your dental and your gingival health are vital to your smile and to your systemic well-being. So why not arrange a check-up and cleaning with your friendly dental team at Family Dental in Glenview, IL? Call today (847) 998-1281.