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A smile can say a lot about a person. An inviting grin can suggest a warm and friendly personality, but dental professionals can see even more in your smile. The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but the mouth is full of clues to a patient’s health. The fact that teeth are susceptible to cavities is no mystery, but diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis can also manifest themselves in the mouth. According to at least one study, more than 60 percent of baby boomers exhibit symptoms in their mouths that may be related to a systemic health problem. These same patients were completely unaware that they might be facing such a health issue. Regular dental checkups can bring these initial warning signs of serious disease to light. For instance, jaw pain has been linked to heart disease, and gum disease can be an early sign of diabetes. Dental professionals are trained to be alert to these signals and to make the appropriate referrals when symptoms warrant. So your gums bleed a little when you brush…everyone’s do, right? Nope, that’s not the case. Pink, healthy gums should be the norm. When flossing, brushing, or eating causes your gums to bleed, it should be a cause for concern. The blood that you see around your gums and in the sink when you rinse is a sign of bacterial infection caused by gingivitis, one of the first signs of periodontal disease. Periodontal, or gum, disease can ravage the mouth. Left untreated, bacteria invade pockets beneath the gum line. Eventually, the bacteria break down the structures that hold teeth in place, causing the teeth to loosen and fall out. Of course, losing teeth can affect your speech, eating habits, and your smile, but that may not be the worst result of periodontal disease. Expectant mothers who suffer from periodontal disease may give birth to low birth weight babies. Other serious medical conditions linked to gum disease include diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and respiratory disease. One theory about these connections involves the bacteria that cause gum disease to travel from the mouth to other areas of the body. More than 80 percent of heart attack patients have been found to have some form of periodontal disease. To battle periodontal disease in its earliest stages, treat it like the serious issue it is. Brushing after each meal and flossing well daily are good places to start. Call your dentist for an appointment and discuss this issue. A thorough examination should reveal the extent of the problem and help to determine an effective treatment plan. Fortunately for those who suffer from periodontal disease, a variety of conservative treatments are available. The simplest is diligent home care, which may form the first line of defense. Mouth rinses and antibiotics combined with deep cleanings may also be recommended. Laser treatments are sometimes utilized as well. Surgery is becoming a last resort. Bleeding gums are usually the first sign of periodontal disease. The good news is, if the problem is treated quickly and aggressively, it can often be controlled to avoid tooth loss and more dire consequences.
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