Visit your dentist regularly? Did you know that gum disease is also known as periodontal disease, want to learn more about the stages of the disease? Make sure that you consult your dentist if you any concerns.

According to an article at naturalnews.com, “Periodontal Disease”

“Gum disease is also referred to as periodontal disease and encompasses the various stages of the disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal literally translates to “around the tooth”. Interestingly, as the disease progresses it manages to burrow itself more completely around the affected tooth or teeth.

The beginning stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which occurs when plaque buildup begins to inflame the gums causing them to redden, swell and easily bleed. Typically there is little to no discomfort during this stage. Because of this, gingivitis is generally detected during a regular dentist visit. If diagnosed and treated, gingivitis is completely reversible.

If gingivitis is not treated, it can lead to periodontitis, which occurs when plaque spreads below the gumline. The bacteria associated with plaque produces toxins, which trigger further inflammation. Over time, this heightened inflammatory response will ultimately deteriorate the bones and tissue that support the affected teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss. Once periodontitis sets in, treatment is crucial to manage the inflammation and minimize damage.

It is estimated that 80% of all American adults have some form of gum disease. Smoking, genetics, stress, medications (including oral contraceptives, anti-depressants and certain heart medications), pregnancy, clenching or grinding your teeth, poor nutrition, diabetes and other systemic diseases have all been implicated as risk factors for the disease.

The link between gum disease and systemic disease is at the center of a number of on going studies. What we currently know is that definitive links do exists between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy complications. Currently researchers are examining the possibilities that either inflammation, bacteria or a combination of the two are at the heart of the link between gum disease and other health problems.”

The good news is you can receive treatment for gum disease. Need the best dentist in Reno then Dr. McElhinney is the one? If you have any questions visit renolaserdentistry.com.

Ever had any dental symptoms that you left untreated or just ignored? Gum infections left untreated could lead to serious consequences. One way to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, make sure your consistent with your dental visits.

According to an article at dentist.net, “The Silent Threat Inside Your Mouth”

“Gum infections, too, harm more than just mouths. While mild gum infections called gingivitis may lead to red and swollen gums, they’re not especially dangerous by themselves. But they can worsen into periodontitis, painless but chronic gum infections that, if left untreated, degrade bony sockets and ligaments that hold teeth in place. The immune system fights gum infections to keep oral bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. It usually succeeds, but not always. Gum-disease bacteria can enter the bloodstream and move to the heart, creating life-threatening infections in previously damaged heart valves. What’s more, scientists believe the resulting inflammation releases infection-fighting compounds that can inadvertently damage other tissues.

The arteries may be the most common target. People with periodontitis were twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to die from a stroke, according to a study that examined 18 years of medical histories for 1,147 people. Steven Offenbacher, director of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, who co-authored the study, is helping conduct another to see if treating periodontitis in heart patients will cut the risk of heart attacks.

Pregnant women with serious periodontal disease have about four times the risk of delivering preterm babies, and they face an increased risk of preeclampsia, in which blood pressure climbs sky-high after the 20th week, threatening the lives of both mother and fetus. In an early clinical trial, researchers found that treating seriously infected gums reduces pre-term births fivefold, but the work needs to be confirmed in larger trials.”

Don’t let any dental concerns get ignored, stay on top of your oral health. Dr. McElhinney of Reno Laser Dentistry is an expert with more than 30 years of experience; want the best click here to contact renolaserdentistry.com.

It’s very clear that a smoker is at an increased risk for periodontal disease. What about secondhand smoke, do you think they have the same increased risk for gum disease? Well according to this article research may just prove that.

According to an article at www.colgate.com, “ secondhand smoke may increase your risk for gum disease.”

“Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, using data from another study that included 2,379 nonsmokers ages 53-74, have concluded that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke for a few hours each day can double a person’s risk of gum disease. People exposed to secondhand smoke less than 25 hours each week had a 29 percent increased chance and for those exposed more than 26 hours, the odds were twice as high. The study appears in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

In 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that the scientific evidence was sufficient to infer a casual relationship between tobacco and gum disease. In 2006, the Surgeon General stated there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The American Dental Association recommends regular checkups and periodontal exams. In addition to smoking, risk factors include tobacco chewing; systemic diseases such as diabetes; various medications such as steroids, cancer therapy drugs and oral contraceptives; bridges that no longer fit properly; crooked teeth; fillings that have become defective; and pregnancy, according to the ADA.

The ADA says warning signs include gums that bleed easily; red, swollen or tender gums; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; persistent bad breath or bad taste; permanent teeth that are loose or separating; changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite; or any change in the fit of partial dentures.”

Click here to view the article from www.colgate.com:

For more information on periodontal disease, click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno.

I know you hear tooth scaling and may not be so willing at first. So let’s look at it this way what if tooth scaling decreased your risk of a heart attack or a stroke, would you be more willing then?

According to an article at medicalnewstoday.com,” the link between heart disease and gum disease and why tooth scaling may be the key.”

“Two new studies give further insights into the links between mouth hygiene, gum disease and cardiovascular events. Researchers in Taiwan find that dental patients who had their teeth cleaned and scaled professionally had reduced risks of heart attack and stroke, while researchers in Sweden find that the type of periodontal or gum disease may predict degree of risks for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Both studies are presented this week at the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) Scientific Sessions 2011, which are running from 12-16 November, in Orlando, Florida. Abstracts of their reports are available to view online in the AHA journal Circulation.

In their nationwide, population-based study, Dr. Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen and Hsin-Bang Leu from the Cardiology department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, examined data on over 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling from a dentist or dental hygienist, and a similar number of matched controls who had never had their teeth professionally cleaned.

None of the participants had a history of stroke or heart attack. The data came from Taiwan National Health insurance records, and the researchers ran statistical tests to compare the cardiovascular event rates between the two groups for an average follow- up of seven years.

They found that participants who had their teeth professionally scaled frequently or occasionally had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not. The researchers considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years, and considered it occasional if it happened once or less in two years.

Chen, a cardiology fellow at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, told the press:

“Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year.”

She suggested that professional tooth scaling removes inflammation-causing bacteria that in turn can lead to heart disease and stroke."

Click here to read the entire article at medicalnewstoday.com:

If you have any questions on tooth scaling and the benefits please contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice located in Reno.

Ever heard of Treponema denticola? It’s an oral bacterium along with other bacteria that produce plaque. The difference is that Treponema denticola is the main bacterium that can lead to periodontal disease if teeth are not properly cared for. Prevention is the key!

According to an article at medicalnewstoday.com,” The Bacterium Treponema denticola falls In with the wrong crowd.”

“Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study, published in the journal Microbiology suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of developing gum disease.

Oral bacteria called Treponema denticola frequently gang up in communities with other pathogenic oral bacteria to produce destructive dental plaque. This plaque, made up of bacteria, saliva and food debris, is a major cause of bleeding gums and gum disease. Later in life this can lead to periodontitis and loss of teeth. It is this interaction between different oral pathogens that is thought to be crucial to the development of periodontal disease.

Researchers from the University of Bristol have discovered that a molecule on the surface of Treponema called CTLP acts as the key pass that grants the bacterium access to the community, by allowing it to latch onto other oral bacteria. Once incorporated, CTLP in conjunction with other bacterial molecules can start to wreak havoc by inhibiting blood clotting (leading to continued bleeding of the gums) and causing tissue destruction.”

Professor Howard Jenkinson, who led the study, said that periodontal disease and bleeding gums are common ailments, affecting many groups of people, including the elderly, pregnant women and diabetics. “Devising new means to control these infections requires deeper understanding of the microbes involved, their interactions, and how they are able to become incorporated into dental plaque,” he said. “

Click here to read more of the article from medicalnewstoday.com

If you have any questions about the best ways to fight periodontal disease, click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno.