It is extremely important to make sure your mouth is healthy

 

Gum disease or periodontal disease is something that 75 percent of the Canadian population has some form of. There are different varying degrees and it’s actually the most common reason that adults lose teeth. Obviously children lose teeth because they’re supposed to. It is an infection in the gums and therefore also in the bones once it gets to be rather severe, and there is bone loss down into and around each of the teeth. When that happens bacteria can take up residence and it can become a systemic problem more so than just an oral problem.

 

Gum Disease

 

Now more than ever it is extremely important to make sure your mouth is healthy. At Woodbine Family Dental we keep ourselves informed of the latest scientific research available in our field. What we now know is that if you have an unhealthy mouth, it puts you at risk for developing serious systemic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pre-term labor, as well as auto-immune and inflammatory diseases.   Furthermore, If you already have a systemic illness and – on top of that – your mouth is unhealthy, it puts you at a higher risk of dying and developing crippling disabilities associated with your illness. Finally, and what our Woodbine Family Dental team finds to be the most compelling reason to get your mouth healthy is the fact that by improving the health of your mouth, you can reduce your risk for future illness, reduce the negative impact your current illness is having on your body (and reduce the amount of medicine you need to take), and you can – in some cases – actually reverse your illness entirely (like Type 2 Diabetes or high blood pressure, for example).

 

At Woodbine Family Dental, we are advocates for your overall health and we understand that good health starts with a healthy mouth. At your first visit with us (and at your regular cleaning visits) we will make sure your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible. When we find unhealthy areas, we will educate you about options to get things back to health.

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How do you know if your gums are unhealthy? A simple test is to vigorously floss between all of you teeth. Is there any red color (blood) on the floss? If so, you have (at least) gingivitis and maybe more progressive gum disease. Healthy gums do not bleed when you clean your teeth with brushing or flossing. If your teeth and gums bleed when you brush and floss, you are at risk for serious illness .

 

Periodontal Antibiotics

 

At Woodbine Family Dental, we offer a wide array of periodontal treatments and therapies. We customize treatment based on your specific health needs. One such periodontal treatment is the use of antibiotics in deep pockets. In order to ensure a healthy mouth as well as overall health, the gum tissue that encircles each tooth must be healthy and free from infection (by harmful bacteria). When this gum tissue becomes infected by harmful bacteria, the attachment of the gum tissue to the tooth gets destroyed. This results in a deep pocket around the tooth where even more harmful bacteria can grow and cause even more damage. If you have deep pockets around your teeth, periodontal antibiotics may be the best option for curing this infection. At Woodbine Family Dental, an hygienist carefully and strategically places periodontal antibiotics (like Arestin) in your gum pockets. These antibiotics fix (glue) themselves to the tissue lining the pocket, and through time-release technology, release the antibiotic to kill the bacteria. These antibiotics are steadily released for 21 days to ensure destruction of all of the bacteria. Once the bacteria are eliminated, the inside of the deep pocket becomes a healthy environment — one in which your body can begin the healing process.