A. No, this is not normal. Bleeding gums are a sign of a bacterial infection. Start brushing and flossing and
seek professional care.
Q. If I brush my teeth regularly at home, do I need to use dental floss?
A. Yes you need to floss because flossing cleans in between the teeth where even the best brushing cannot clean.
Q. My gums have receded; can that be fixed?
A. Gum recession can often be repaired by periodontal reconstruction procedures. Even if the tooth has a
filling
or crown
, it can usually be done.
Q. My gums receded and the tooth is sensitive, can that be stopped?
A. The sensitivity can be treated by fluoride treatment, repairing the gum recession or placing a
bonded filling in the
tooth, depending on the situation. Finding the cause of the recession is very important so the process can be stopped
or it will continue.
Q. I've always had gum problems, will I lose my teeth?
A. If you don't stop the gum problems, it is likely that you will lose teeth. However, gum disease can be successfully
treated and controlled with modern
state-of-the-art periodontal care as long as you catch it soon enough. Do not wait
till it gets so bad that it is too late.
Q. My parents had gum problems, is it hereditary?
A. Everything, to
some extent, is hereditary including gum problems. But your parents probably didn't get the best
dental care either. Today much more can be done than years ago, so even if you inherited low resistance, you can
have healthy gums.
Q. Does gum disease cause bad breath?
A. Most bad breath is caused by bacteria and bacterial byproducts in the mouth. Gum disease is a major cause of
bad breath.
Q. My gums are red, why is that?
A. Redness is usually a sign of gum infection. The classic signs of infection, whether in the gums or any other part
of the body are swelling, increased temperature and redness.
Q. My gums are receded but don't bleed or hurt, is that a problem?
A. Yes, it is a problem. When the gums recede, the bone that holds the teeth also recedes. That can reduce the
support for the
teeth and result in tooth loosening and ultimate loss of teeth.
Q. My gums hurt. What could cause that?
A. Pain in the gums is the result of an acute gum infection. Causes could be gum
abscess, or an abscess originating
from a tooth. Virus infections such as herpes can make gums sore. Canker sores, cold sores and trench mouth
(ANUG)
can also make the gums hurt.
Q. I have a bump on my gum that comes and goes. What could that be?
A. It is probably an abscess that is draining through the gum tissue. It is very important to cure the infection because
damage to the bone is happening
all the time, even when the bump goes away.
Q. My gums have a whitish color between the teeth. What could that be?
A. It could be a sign of a gum infection called
ANUG. This also used be
called Trench Mouth and typically occurs in
teenagers and young adults who don't brush and floss regularly when they are going through a period of high stress.
Q. My gums have receded, especially in the front in between the teeth. What could that be?
A. It could be due to teeth clenching or grinding, damaging the bone. As the bone recedes, so does the gum tissue
causing gum
recession.
Q. I have a bad taste in my mouth. Could that be from my gums?
A. Yes, it could. Bacteria and bacterial products such as sulfur compounds can accumulate and putrefy. These
compounds
taste and smell like rotting meat - a most unpleasant taste and smell. Unfortunately, most people cannot
smell their own breath and don't notice the foul taste of gum disease because they get used to it.
Q. I am concerned about bad breath. Could that come from gum disease?
A. Gum disease is by far the number one cause of bad breath. But it can be treated.
Q. Does Listerine help treat gum disease?
A. Listerine can kill some germs but not the germs that cause periodontal disease, so it is not an effective treatment
for gum disease.
Q. Are there any toothpastes or mouthwashes that can prevent gum disease?
A. Today, the most effective toothpastes and mouth washes to fight periodontal disease are the ones that contain
chlorine dioxide. There are
several brands, most of which have been developed by a dentist and dispensed directly
from dentist offices. They are designed to neutralize and break up the volatile sulfur compounds that are made by
bacteria to break down the gum
tissue.
Q. Can't you just take antibiotics to kill the germs in the plaque?
A. In the short run, especially for acute gum infections with abscess or pus, you can take antibiotics, but in the
long run, antibiotics are not the solution. Effective brushing, flossing and, most importantly, regular dental care
is the best answer.
Q. What is plaque?
A. Plaque is a film that accumulates
on the teeth and contains bacteria, bacterial byproducts and food particles.
Q. What is calculus or tartar?
A. They are both the same thing. If plaque builds up on the teeth and is not removed
every day, calcium in the
saliva may be deposited into the plaque, creating a hard layer on the teeth, not unlike barnacles on the bottom of a
ship. If that is not cleaned off by your dentist or hygienist, it encourages more plaque
to form and leads to gum disease.
Q. Is plaque the problem or is it tartar?
A. The problem is the bacteria and bacterial byproducts in plaque. Tartar or calculus on the tooth makes plaque
accumulate faster and together leads to bone loss and gum disease.
Q. How can I have gum disease, my gums don't hurt?
A. Gum disease rarely hurts. In fact, sometimes the only sign of gum
disease is when a patient notices a tooth has
become loose or a bad taste develops in their mouth. At that point, it may be too late to save the tooth. Regular
cleanings and checkups are the key to discover these problems before
they get too bad.
Q. How often do I need professional cleanings?
A. The frequency of professional cleanings depends on the individual. Everyone is different. Some people need more
sleep than
others to be properly rested, and cleanings are no different. People with good plaque control, daily brushing
and flossing and high natural resistance can have cleanings twice a year and still maintain optimal dental health. People
with less effective plaque control at home and lower natural resistance need cleanings three or four times a year.
Q. I've heard hard brushing can cause gum recession. Is that true?
A. Hard
brushing with a hard toothbrush could cause gum recession over a long period of time but hard brushing is
usually not the problem, especially if you use a soft brush. Gum recession is usually due to other factors such as tooth
grinding.
Q. What kind of toothbrush is best for your gums?
A. The best type of brush to use is a soft brush with round ended bristles in the case of a manual brush. Electric
brushes are good
too.
Q. If I have my gums treated, can gum diseases come back?
A. Gum disease can be controlled and slowed down, but in cannot be permanently cured. Anyone with teeth can
develop gum disease.
If you have already had problems with your gums, you know you have the potential for future
problems. However, you do not need to lose your teeth because of it. If you can control the cause of gum disease,
your gums can be returned
to a state of health and you can consider yourself a "healed periodontal patient".
Q. If my gums aren't that bad, do I still need surgery?
A. Periodontal surgery is done in a case where there
is extensive gum disease, bone loss or gum recession. In cases
where the gum disease is more moderate, more conservative procedures such as scaling and root planing may be
performed.
Q. Is there any options besides gum surgery for bleeding gums?
A. Bleeding gums is a sign of infection but bleeding gums alone do not tell us how extensive the damage is or what
treatment is needed. Unless there is an
acute abscess, we always start with cleanings, scaling and root planing and,
especially, home care instructions. Sometimes that is all that is needed to treat the gum infection.
Q. Can gum recession be prevented?
A. Gum recession can usually be prevented by detecting a condition that could cause the recession and then
stopping it before recession occurs. Examples of causes of gum recession are
gum inflammation that could lead to
recession and bone loss, tooth clenching and grinding that can lead to bone loss, developmental defects in the
gum tissue or cheek muscles and, rarely, people who brush compulsively with a
very hard tooth brush.
Q. How is gum recession treated?
A. Gum recession is treated by first stopping the cause. Then periodontal grafting procedures can be performed to
replace the missing
gum tissue.
