Studies show that 75% of people in the United States have issues with their gum health. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, presents in varying degrees and is the most common reason adults lose their teeth.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, and also infects the bones if left untreated. This can cause bone loss into and around each of the teeth, causing bacteria to then get into your bloodstream. This can affect your overall health, not just your oral health.
Gum disease is one of our biggest concerns for our patients, aside from oral cancer. Gum disease has been linked to serious conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. Successfully treating any existing infection can greatly improve quality of life and decrease these serious systemic risks.
Here at Smile Blue Ridge, we offer one of the most conservative and comprehensive treatments for periodontal disease. Ask us if Perio Protect trays may be right for you.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Overall Health
We pride ourselves on having the latest scientific research and technologies available in the field of dentistry. If your mouth is unhealthy, you are at risk for developing serious systemic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and preterm labor, as well as auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. To learn more, visit our Complete Health Dentistry page. If you already have systemic illness and are in poor oral health, you are at a higher risk of developing crippling disabilities associated with your illness. This can even lead to premature death. Improving your oral health can greatly reduce these risks and the impact your current illness is having on your body. It could also potentially reduce the amount of medications needed – and in some cases can reverse your illness entirely.
How To Tell If Your Gums Are Unhealthy
A simple way to tell if your gums are unhealthy is to vigorously floss between all of your teeth. If the gums bleed, you have gingivitis and possibly more progressive gum disease. Healthy teeth do not bleed when you clean your teeth by brushing or flossing.
We are here to help you reverse your risk and get your oral health back on track. We’re committed to customizing a plan that will include the very best and most conservative treatment options and avoiding deep, painful cleanings and gum surgery whenever possible.
If you have been told you need a deep cleaning or gum surgery, we recommend you schedule a consultation with us at Smile Blue Ridge.
Treating Gum Disease with Perio Protect Trays
At Smile Blue Ridge, we offer a leading-edge treatment for periodontal disease called Perio Protect Trays. These custom trays fit over your teeth and deliver oxygen deep into the gum pockets surrounding them. It is in these deep pockets that the bad bacteria can live and cause a chronic infection in your mouth, as well as your entire body.
The presence of this bacteria causes your body to then have an inflammatory response. This inflammation is targeted at the infection in your gums, the effects of which are widespread throughout your body.
Scientific research shows that this inflammation is harmful to your overall health and puts you at risk for serious illness. We use Perio Protect trays, along with other periodontal treatments, to destroy the bacteria in your gums, thereby promoting a healthy environment where your body is able to heal and maintain overall health.
