A website called The Vitamin D Council has posted an article about vitamin D's relationship to periodontal disease - which they refer to as PD. :)
I thought the article raised a few interesting points.
They are not saying that sunlight exposure and vitamin d supplementation will reverse gum disease. And that is good because I am quite sure that neither would. Once the bacterial population gets to a certain level - vitamins are not likely to stop them.
Instead they are pointing out that people with suspected lower levels of vitamin D are more at risk for contracting gum disease. This may or may not be true. I don't necessarily doubt it. It is an interesting correlation to say the least.
Once you know you have gum disease, you should definitely take action and be under the care of skilled and caring periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in gum health and disease.
A good periodontist will work to help save your teeth.
I thought this story about Dr. Tills, DDS and Dr. Mathew Kutz, DDS offering free oral cancer screenings was worthy of being talked about. Here is the full story from prweb.
I think it is fantastic that they are doing this. Oral cancer is obviously something serious and it is not something that most offices have the ability to screen for.
Therefore, an office that is offering free screenings - even if it is only for April 2013 is news worthy.
I'm delighted to hear of their work.
Of the many things that gum disease appears, according to researchers, to be related to, increased risk for oral cancer is one of them.
It's quite amazing when you consider the volume of research that shows a connection betweengum disease and all kinds of other disease, isn't it? It appears that a long term, chronic bacterial infection in the mouth (gum disease) leads to all kinds of more significant health problems.
The bacteria: p gingivalis has even been found in heart arterial plaque! Wow.
Prevention is important. And many dentists and hygienists are able to educate patients and help give them helpful tips, like using the HydroFloss at home, to help improve their periodontal health. And for many people it is working!
Congrats to Doctors Tills and Kutz for offering free screening for oral cancer during the month of April 2013!
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And don't forget about prevention as well. Many expensive dental
procedures could be avoided in the first place, if patient's were more
educated about prevention. My favorite.
Yet another study shows the connection between gum disease and systemic (whole body) health.
The latest one that I read was done by Cigna. You can read the full article here.
It is really quite amazing when you consider the volume of evidence coming from researchers today. It seems like every time you turn around, researchers are finding another link between gum disease and some other body problem.
Now, less emergency room visits! Wow.
So, this is really just a modern day validation of ancient wisdom. Farmers today still understand the value of checking an animal's mouth before purchase. They know that the mouth reflects the body. The wisdom of farm life has taught them that and this knowledge has been passed down in this form for possibly thousands of years!
The mouth reflects the body.
Perhaps one of the biggest objective indicators of the presence of gum disease (periodontal disease) is those periodontal pocket depths. And this is important for people to know.
Above 3mm = BAD Below 3mm=Good.
If patients understood this correlation, they would probably be more interested in doing something about their periodontal issues. Of course, the first step would be to recognize the problem in the first place! And we know that so many do not.
Doctors and Hygienists often do their best to help the patient understand the problem and what they can do about it. But the volume of information is just not enough. The connections are hard to make in a 45 minute to 1 hour visit during which time the patient has their mouth wide open while being talked to (or at) by the clinician or hygienist!
Something that I believe can help is the Hydro Floss Oral Irrigator- it is something that is relatively easy to use at home. It comes with simple instructions. Most importantly, as many doctors have been discovering, it is helping patients to do a better job with oral health at home and they are seeing correspondingly smaller pocketing on subsequent visits! This is great news!
This one tool,simple in design can make a big difference in patient's lives!
--------
And don't forget about prevention as well. Many expensive dental
procedures could be avoided in the first place, if patient's were more
educated about prevention. My favorite.
I found an interesting article by Doctor Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS on the Dental Economics website. Here is the full article
In this article Dr. Nagelberg discusses how high the incidence of periodontal disease is and how it is under addressed and under served across the nation. I suspect that won't be surprising news to most dentists and hygienists.
One thing he did mention though is that many patients are only receiving regular cleanings when they should be receiving special periodontal treatments. That's a tough one, I agree.
On the one hand, I do believe that many doctors can guide and educate their patients to do a better job at home and reduce their periodontal pockets. I personally believe the Hydro Floss is a great tool to help patients obtain those results.
I just wish more dentists and hygienist were aware of this device and what it can do for the dental health of their patients. But, so far, even after 25 years, too many remain unaware.
And don't forget about prevention as well. Many expensive dental
procedures could be avoided in the first place, if patient's were more
educated about prevention. My favorite.
Smoking: It seems like there are plenty of good reasons to give up
smoking. Here is yet another. Smoking is a contributing factor to the
development of gum disease. This could be because of the smoke’s
effect on the immune system or the direct effect of the smoke on
gum tissue. Smoking dries out the mucous and saliva-producing tis-
sues of the mouth, and smoke is also toxic in nature. Any of these
reasons—and more—can be why smoking contributes to the progression of gum disease. It makes sense, right? Smoke is poison and
poison harms the tissues of the body.
You can also find the book : What You Should Know About Gum Disease here. If smoking is affecting your breath (of course it does) you might want to counter that with a little : French Kiss Chewing Gum. If you haven't quite yet, I hope this helps to motivate you to 'make it happen'. And if you love someone who hasn't quit yet, you could send this page to them.
Dr. McCormick is now using the LANAP procedure to treat patients with periodontal disease.
We congratulate Dr. McCormick on helping patients with gum disease.
The article mentions that over 40% of people over the age of 65 and up will have lost or will lose 6 or more teeth to gum disease. Ouch... Time to focus on prevention?
Gum disease does not wait until you are 65 however, it can strike at any age. It is just that you see more of the accumulated damage when you are older. A little prevention now can save a boat load of cash in the future - not to mention time, pain and suffering as well!
And don't forget about prevention as well. Many expensive dental
procedures could be avoided in the first place, if patient's were more
educated about prevention. My favorite.
Now I want to make sure that I tell you about one of the most powerful
dental health prevention / promotion tools I know of. It is called
the Hydro Floss.
* I speak in general terms only on this site. Specific questions
about your unique dental health situation should be addressed by your
doctor or periodontist.
Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Corbett has joined the list of Governors that have dubbed February as "Gum Disease Awareness Month" - you can read the article from BeWellPhilly here.
So far, I have become aware of Illinois, Oklahoma and now Pennsylvania as states that are trying to raise the awareness of the seriousness of gum disease as well as how widespread it is. Then there is Dr. Hudson in NY.
And that is great! I applaud the Governors of these states as well as Dr. Hudson.
The Problem Of Gum Disease Is VERY Widespread
In articles I've read recently some of the dental associations involved in these proclamations are stating that 85% of people suffer from some degree of gum disease.
The standard statistics is around 75% - but even at that lower number that means 3 out of every 4 people have some. Most of them don't know.
Many will not become aware until it is time for an expensive treatment. There may be multiple reasons for this. I don't want to speculate on that too much. But, the fact remains: A LOT of people have gum disease.
It appears that many of those people will need expensive treatments and or lose one or more teeth! (Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss! )
This Prompted Me To Write The Book
To do my fair share in raising the awareness about this widespread disease, as well as what people can do to stop it from progressing, I wrote a book.
The name of the book is: What You Should Know About Gum Disease.
I think every family should have a copy of this book on their shelf. If so many people have gum disease now, and do not know it, what are the chances that multiple people in your family could use this information?
Who knows, maybe they (or you) can save thousands of dollars in expensive treatments that were not needed because you took action to prevent them.
It's not all about brushing and flossing. If that was all it took, would so many people have gum disease today?
I hope this article helped to raise awareness a little further.
The article discusses some basic things about gum disease and treatment.
I have my own thoughts on the topic
Gingivitis is the reversible form of gum disease. Gum disease, periodontal disease and even gingivitis are different stages of the same disease process. Dental professionals tell us that about 75% of people have some form of gum disease now.
The best policy is prevention
The article goes on to mention all of the various treatments you can have done to restore the damage of lost tissue.
But, I think the best plan is to prevent it in the first place.
The article mentions a connection between gum disease and pneumonia.
This does lend itself to common sense. If we have a rampant bacteria infection in the mouth, its fairly likely that some of those little beasties find their way to our lungs.
Not a big surprise.
Of course, researchers have been noticing some type of connection between gum disease and all kinds of health problems including heart disease, mouth cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and others. Not much is completely conclusive. But many doctors today feel confident that the connections exist.
Controlling Periodontal Disease
Terminology explained. Gum Disease, Periodontal disease and gingivitis are all terms for various stages of the SAME disease process.
The culmination of this process leads to lost gum tissue, lost supporting bone, loose teeth and finally a tooth or teeth falling out or needing to be pulled.
So, it pays to control this problem. How do you do it?
One of the key points you have probably never been told (as a patient) are the periodontal pocket depths. These relatively objective measurements can tell you where the health of your gums are at.
You ask your hygienist or dentist to measure them on EVERY visit for a cleaning and checkup.
Ideal pocket depths are 3mms (millimeters) and below. If your numbers are getting better at each visit, that's awesome. You know you are headed in the right direction.
One tool that I have personally found to be helpful (and many other people too) is this one
Good hygienists and dentists that care about their patients already know about this tool. And they tell their patients to get it.
By controlling your periodontal pocket depths, generally speaking, you are controlling, limiting and preventing any further damage.
Success in this area could very well mean that you get to keep your teeth (or the rest of them) for a lifetime of good service.
So Study Up On This Tool Today - if you are an individual, it may help you. If you are a doctor, it may very well help your patients reach and maintain periodontal health!
In either case, this information should be spread. Link to this page today and tell others about it.
*I speak in general terms only. If you have specific questions about your unique dental health situation, address those questions to your doctor or dentist.
Many people believe that proper brushing and flossing are enough to stop or prevent gum disease and cavities. I am going to attempt to explain why that may be true sometime but is not true MOST of the time.
Perhaps you think that I am incorrect in saying that brushing and flossing are not enough? I understand why you would think that. After all, it is what we have been indirectly taught since the time we were children.
However, the basic fact remains: About 3 out of every 4 people have some gum disease right now! I did not make that up. 75% of people have some gum disease. Ask any dental professional, this is the standard answer. You might find some variation but 75% is the typical answer you will receive.
Therefore, if 75% of people have some gum disease right now, then regular brushing and flossing must not work for most people.
You Should Definitely Continue to Brush and Floss
Please do not misunderstand me. You should continue to brush and floss because they are both important preventive measures that should not be overlooked. It is important that you continue to do both.
It is also important that you get your regular dental cleanings at the frequency that your dentist or periodontist recommends. Those cleanings can really help you.
However, nearly every dental professional will agree that what you do at home has the greatest impact of all on your dental health. I think we just established that brushing and flossing, while important are not keeping MOST people from having gum disease.
What Else Can You Do?
I have written a book on this subject entitled: What You Should Know About Gum Disease : A Layman's Guide To Fighting Gum Disease ISBN: 978-0981485508
One of the most useful tools I have found for helping to stem the tide, reducing periodontal pocket depths and helping you to make your gums healthier is this home use machine.
I have also written a free report about it called: How To Stop Gum Disease In 4 Easy Steps. you can get that free report HERE.
Well, I think I have given you enough tools and resources to explore further if you want to. I can only say that I really do believe that a copy of my book belongs on every family's bookshelf. When you consider that 75% of people have gum disease whether they know it or not, then in only makes sense that every family and most individuals need this information. Sincerely, David Snape ToothyGrinsStore.com 1-888-586-6849
PS: read more about the book here.
PPS: A doctor once told me that prevention doesn't pay. What do you think he meant by that?
I found this article about Gum Disease and Osteoporosis at the Loma Linda University Faculty Dental Practices Center for Dentistry and Orthodontics, here is the link to the article:
There are just some key concepts that the average person does not know. But if this person did know, it could make a huge difference in how much they spend on dental health treatments over the course of a lifetime.
Of course, you always want to get your regular checkups and cleanings in with your doctor and hygienist. But, what if you had a way to prevent the costly treatments that come out of pure ignorance for a person or a family?
* I speak in general terms only both in the book and on this site. For questions about your unique dental health situation, please direct those questions to your dentist or periodontist.
I like that Dr. Pallos wrote about periodontal disease. It's also known as gum disease. In fact, the three terms, gum disease, periodontal disease and gingivitis are simply different stages of the same disease process.
Periodontal disease and gum disease are more or less synonymous and refer to the irreversible erosion of tissue. Gingivitis, on the other hand, is the beginning stage of this disease process and can be corrected before irreversible damage occurs.
To cut through a lot of mumbo jumbo and make it simple, here are the key points:
You can monitor your level of gum disease (75% of people have some) more or less objectively through the periodontal pocket depths - as measured by a hygienist or dentist.
Generally speaking, 3mm and below is considered healthy and above 3mm is considered unhealthy.
Therefore, you want to find tools that can help you keep the plaque and tartar (as mentioned in Dr. Pallos article, in check. Or, reduce those pockets if necessary.
For me and many of my customers, this machine has helped. In fact, it saved me from a SRP (Scaling and Root Planing Treatment or Deep Cleaning).
In the US these treatments can be quite costly. I've heard they are pretty inexpensive in New Zealand though!
The Best part about using this machine is that you can monitor and watch your results and progress (or lack thereof) via your very own dentist or hygienist.
Nothing else worked for me and my dentist insisted that I get that SRP treatment. But, when I showed up at her office after using that machine for a few months, she conceded that my gums where healthy and I did not need that treatment after all! How wonderful.
You can only see your dentist a few times a year. Most people don't get their teeth cleaned more than 2 to 4 times per year.
However, the struggle against gum disease is a daily one. Since your dentist can't clean your teeth for you every day, the bulk of the struggle against gum disease, cavities and bad breath falls on your shoulders.
Since gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss, this daily struggle should be taken very seriously. As you likely already know, the cost of fillings is fairly high. I can assure you that the cost of dental surgery, gum grafts and implants is much higher.
Don't get stuck with big bills. Learn what you need to do, beyond regular brushing and flossing, to help protect your dental health and your wallet!
Read the book: What You Should Know About Gum Disease : A Layman's Guide To Fighting Gum Disease Today!
This article was published in the ScienceDaily.com publication.
It turns out that that these little critters are secreting Interleukin-10 to trick your T-Cells (cells for fighting infection) into thinking everything is normal and there is no reason to take action.
If it weren't for this little trick, then they would likely be mitigating down to population sizes that would never make a difference or be harmful to your body.
Just like slime on the inside of a fish tank, once these colonies get a hold they never want to let go. That's a bummer for us humans.
The Daily disruption of plaque becomes crucial in the fight against these little beasties. It is under the plaque that they are shielded form oxygen- and this is where the trouble starts.
Daily disruption of plaque exposes them to oxygen and this, in turn, helps to keep them to manageable levels.
The HydroFloss really is the best oral irrigator, in my opinion. The main reason is due to the magnet which can be found in the handle of the Hydro Floss.
This is not a skimpy little magnet like a certain copy cat irrigator has. This is a long cylindrical magnet.
This longer magnet in the hydrofloss handle is easy to detect by holding a paperclip up to it. You will be able to see that the paperclip is attracted to the magnet. This is an easy way for you to demonstrate to yourself both the existence and size of the magnet.
Why Is The Magnet Important?
The magnet, as the theory goes, creates a charge on the minerals that are in the water. This is why you never want to use distilled water in your Hydro Floss. Instead, use tap water. The charge placed on the minerals is where the benefit is.
This particular magnet and configuration have been studied, researched and the results of two different studies were published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.
The results showed statistically significant reduction in plaque and tartar build up between office visits compared to a group that used an irrigator without the benefit of the magnet.
The Journal entries were published in may of 1993 and April of 1998. The researchers were different in each study.
Since, this particular magnet configuration has been tested and documented and not other sizes and configurations, it is probably best to stick with what works.
How Did The HydroFloss Come About?
There was a man who had gum disease, just like about 75% of the people on this planet. Unfortunately, his had progressed to the point where he was going to lose his teeth. In fact, his periodontist said to him, "There is nothing I can do, when your teeth fall out, come back and I'll give you new ones."
That last sentence is very telling. Those 'replacements' would be very, very expensive by the way. Implants are quite costly.
The man happened to work in industry where they used magnets to keep pipes clean. He reasoned that the same thing might help his teeth.
He tried it out and sure enough, he was able to save his teeth. The periodontist verified that things had gotten better and that he would not lose his teeth. That is how the Hydro Floss came about.
I got this story from someone who was there when this happened.
Great Periodontist - Stan Wint In Overland Park, Kansas
Stan Wint is a very good periodontist in my opinion. I definitely feel comfortable recommending him to anyone who needs or wants to see a periodontist.
I think he does great work and I do believe he won't steer you in the wrong direction. He is a very sincere, very experienced periodontist and I think if you need a periodontist, he is the doctor to see.
He shares an office with Dr. Satheesh.
The Office is located at:
10870 Benson St Suite 2100
Overland Park, KS 66210
The telephone number for the office is: (913) 451-6158 Sheila and Becky usually answer when the office is open.
If you are looking for a good periodontist, Stan is the man. :)
I had an interesting conversation with one of my customers who purchased a Hydro Floss today.
We talked about the work of Weston Price and potential problems with some popular health food items today. We also talked about radioactivity in Europe and now on the West Coast of the US.
It is quite amazing how many of us easily forget about the radioactive disasters of yesterday that can be affecting our food supply and ourselves today.
Anyway, I digress. We are here to talk about gum disease. But, I truly enjoy the different perspectives I hear from my customers about all things health. Regardless of whether I agree or not, it is almost always interesting hear various viewpoints from everyone.
At any rate, one thing we can be relative certain of is that about 75% of the population exhibits some form of gum disease right now. Ask any dentist, hygienist, periodontist, or oral surgeon, they all know the problem is widespread. That is why I believe every family needs the information contained within this book, whether they realize it or not.
A few weeks ago, an anesthesiologist who also bought this device from me and works for a busy hospital told me that he was sure that gum disease had an awful lot to do with the cardiac disease they were constantly treating. Many researchers have long suspected links between gum disease and many other diseases.
When you think about this, it isn't really all that new. As you can see in history, one always checked the condition of a horse or other work animal before purchasing it. Theyintuitively knew that a diseased mouth reflected the state of the rest of the body. They would not buy work animals with bad teeth. Isn't that fascinating?
Gum disease is a big problem. Many times you can do something about it. However, if regular brushing and flossing were 'always enough', would we see the high incidence of gum disease that we do? I will leave the answer for you to think about. Perhaps you will draw the same conclusion I have.
Knowledge is Power
If knowledge is power, not having enough would be ignorance then, wouldn't it? Sometimes the technical language and professional language are a big barrier to understanding.
The subtitle to What You Should Know About Gum Disease is "A Layman's Guide To Fighting Gum Disease."
It is so for a reason. I have put things in an easy to understand format and repeat the key points over and over again from different angles. It is to drive home what this disease is and what you have to achieve to overcome it. While the amount of effort varies from person to person, because every body is different, it is hard to get anywhere if you don't have the right information.
One key point is that the fight against gum disease, regardless of whether you want to stop it or prevent it in the first place is a daily struggle. No one is going to work on your teeth everyday, except you. It isn't practical or possible to get a dental cleaning every day. Yet, the plaque must be disrupted every day.
Perhaps brushing and regular flossing really are good enough for some people, but what about the majority of people? Again, you can draw your own conclusion.
Perhaps the book: What You Should Know About Gum Disease is one that belongs on your family's health book shelf?
Use the comment section below if you would like to add to the discussion.
* I speak in general terms only, for specific questions about your unique dental health situation, be sure to ask your periodontist or dentist for those answers. They can also provide you with advice, diagnosis and treatment, while no website can.
Periodontal disease, gingivitis and gum disease are all the same disease. They are just different stages of the same process.
While gingivitis is considered 'reversible' there is a fine line between it and 'true' gum disease. When you cross that line, the damage is no longer reversible.
But, you can stop the progression of gum disease and your gum's will, generally speaking, be considered healthy by most dental practitioners when all of your periodontal pocket depths measure 3 millimeters or less.
Note: I speak in general terms here. Specific questions about your unique dental health situation should be directed to your dentist or periodontist.
Receding Gum Tissue
Receding gum tissue, however, does not usually come back. There could be slight improvement, but if you need more restored, you could need a gum graft.
If that is the case for you, look for a periodontist that has 10 years experience minimum. They say it takes 10 years to master something. You will want to minimize the possibility of needing to 'try again'.
That happened to me once. And I later discovered that gum grafting was a technique that this general dentist had just learned. I was a little bit unhappy to say the least. Couple that with the knowledge that I was only about 20 years old at the time and probably didn't need a graph anyway, it is even more disturbing.
It wasn't until later in life that I started to develop a better understanding. However, at the time I had no idea what was going on.
This Is Why I Wrote The Book
It is the experience shared above, plus other experiences, plus listening to the stories of other people that led to the writing of this book. This information is important to anyone who has teeth and is interesting in keeping them for a lifetime of good service.
Many people spend a lot of money on expensive treatments and imperfect teeth replacements such as dentures and implants. If it is possible to avoid that, even once, then it is definitely worth it to do so!
* I speak in general Terms only here. If you have a
specific question about your unique dental health situation, be sure to
ask your doctor or periodontist the answer to those questions.
