Dental Implants Specialists in Stamford CT Discuss the Health Implications of Gum Disease, PART 2

Welcome to the second installment of our four-part article series on gum disease. In our previous post, we spoke to a dental implants specialist in Stamford CT who provided us with an explanation of what gum disease is and how it progresses from its beginning stages (gingivitis) to periodontitis, at which point it can cause irreparable damage and tooth loss. Now, before we continue to discuss the various signs and symptoms of this terrible oral affliction, let’s just take a look at how much of a health problem gum disease has become…

The Statistics of Gum Disease in the United States

According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25% of adults aged 65 and older have gum disease. That’s a quarter of the population! A further 15% of adults between the ages 35 and 44 suffer either from gingivitis or full-blown periodontitis. The American Academy of Periodontology doesn’t have much positive news to contribute to the situation. They estimate that 20% to 30% of American adults are at a serious risk of losing teeth to gum disease, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control say that a shocking 80% of the American population suffers from some form or stage of this ailment.

“What’s perfectly clear from what American healthcare authorities have to say is that gum disease is a serious and pervasive problem and that awareness absolutely has to be increased,” emphasizes a new teeth implants specialist in NJ. “We need to see more people taking action in getting treatment or, better still, preventing these problems from developing in the first place.”

What else do these surveys reveal? Men are more likely to suffer from gum disease than women, which is believed to come down to women taking more care of their teeth than men. Furthermore, 90% of people who have been diagnosed with advanced periodontal disease are smokers. There’s never been a better time to quit!

The Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

Combating gum disease, which is clearly incredibly pervasive amongst today’s society, begins with educating patients on what signs and symptoms to recognize. “Knowing that you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery,” says a dental implants specialist in Stamford CT. “If patients recognized the beginning signs of gum disease, when it is still known as gingivitis, they will be more likely to seek treatment at a stage when it won’t be costly or painful to treat and it won’t have caused permanent damage.”

So… what are the symptoms we should be aware of?

• Red and inflamed gums
• Gums that look swollen and spongy
• Chronic bad breath
• Teeth that feel loose and sensitive
• Gums that feel tender and bleed easily when brushing or flossing
• Discomfort when chewing
• gum lesions and sores
• Discoloration of the teeth
• Gums that appear to be receding from the crowns of the teeth

“Although gum disease can make the teeth and gums feel tender, the absence of severe pain can fool patients into thinking that they don’t have a problem,” cautions a new teeth implants specialist in NJ. “Most people go to the doctor when they’re uncomfortable or don’t feel well, but it can be dangerous to apply this treatment philosophy to your oral health. It’s important to keep an eye out for the other more obvious symptoms of gum disease instead of judging your health by how comfortable or uncomfortable you feel.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about gum disease and the various impacts it can have upon one’s general health, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

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By: Gina Butler

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