Periodontal Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects nearly 80% of our population, yet very few people know that they have this problem. It is a quiet ailment that slowly eats away at your gums and teeth. Many times people don’t notice it until it becomes more noticeable, and by this time it is too late to avoid serious problems. To complicate this disease, it does not stop in your mouth. Harmful bacteria are absorbed into the broken down gum tissues and enter directly into the bloodstream, spreading throughout your whole body system. Once the bacteria enters the body, it can cause infection, blood clot formation, and possibly a harmful inflammatory response. These processes contribute to many life threatening diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The most common factor in the fostering of periodontal disease is plaque, a colorless film which eats away at your teeth and gums. Thankfully, this factor is also the most preventable, as plaque can be dramatically depleted through the usage of proper brushing and flossing techniques. If plaque is not removed through brushing and goes untreated, your gums and teeth will break down and serious problems will begin to develop. For this reason, regular dental visits are an integral part of proper dental hygiene.

Although gum disease is not curable, it is reversible. With the help of the Frankel Dentistry staff, we can make sure your gums and teeth are healthy, for a “healthy mouth promotes a healthy body.”