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GUM DISEASE

or Gingivitis, Periodontal Disease or Periodontitis or Pyorrhea, Gum-Disease

Gum disease is a serious illness that attacks and damages the gums and bone supporting the teeth. In severe case, movable unstable tooth needs to be removed.


gum disease, gingivitis, periodontal disease, periodontitis, toothpaste, dental floss, bad breath,


What Causes it?

Below gum line, the bacteria, gum infection or germs in Plaque (sticky coating film on the teeth) cause inflammation or gum swollen (Gingivitis). Untreated Gingivitis can advance to Periodontal Disease (Periodontitis). As the disease makes progress, the pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) become deeper. More gums and bone are destroyed with looseness and eventual tooth loss.

The Most Common Complications and Problems

Gum Disease is basically painless. There is usually minor or no discomfort. Although this may be the symptoms of periodontal disease in progress:

  • occasional gum bleeding while tooth brushing, flossing or biting into hard food (e.g. apples)
  • noticeable lengthening of teeth because gum receding
  • visible pockets between the teeth and the gums (look also at Wisdom Tooth)
  • after all loose shaky teeth in later stages
  • periodontitis can also cause bad breath and foul tastes
  • it is the most significant cause of tooth loss (Tooth Extraction) in adult
  • gum disease contributes to the development of heart disease, increases the risk of stroke and low birth weight baby, compromises diabetes, osteoporosis and respiratory diseases

So How's it Treated?

The aim of treatment is to control any bacterial infection that stays alive and to stop progression of the illness.

If left untouched, bacterial plaque mineralizes to develop dental calculus or tartar.

Tartar is a yellow mineral build-up. Along with daily surface stains it dulls the natural whiteness of your teeth.

We will remove completely the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of all your teeth. If you have some signs of gingivitis, we may recommend that you return for future cleanings more often than twice a year.

The standard treatment is an intensive deep-cleaning, non-surgical method called scaling and root planing.

Scaling scrapes the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planing smooths irregular spots on the tooth where germs collect. It also helps remove bacteria that can contribute to the gum disease. This smooth, clean surface helps the gums to reconnect to the teeth.

We use professional high quality instruments, such as scalers and curettes to remove bacterial plaque, calculus or tartar around the teeth and below the gum line.

We also apply the devices with powerful ultra-sonic vibration and irrigation system to fall to pieces the bacterial plaque and calculus. Local anesthetic is commonly used to prevent discomfort in our patient from end to end of this process.

We perform contemporary and very effective non-surgical therapy with Arestin® (minocycline) that controls the growth of harmful bacteria.

In more advanced cases of gum disease, treatment options involve gum surgery to restore supportive tissues.

How Can You Avoid Gum Disease?

Periodontal disease is preventable with professional treatment and daily oral home care:

To help fight against bacterial plaque, dentists recommend the ESSENTIAL tools and dental products as INTERDENTAL or BETWEEN TEETH CLEANINGS:

Latex Free Gum Stimulator

Interdental or Interproximal Brushes

Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet (WP-100W) is a NEW!, safe device and very effective oral care tool for those that can't or won't use dental floss.

Contact Dentist

Looking forward to hearing from you

Aleksandr V. Melekhin, DDS

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