My dentist says I have gum disease

So your dentist says you have gum disease.  What is it exactly?  Gum disease is gingivitis in the early stages and periodontal disease in the later stages.  Once you have periodontal disease you always have periodontal disease. 

Gingivitis is in a nut shell inflammation of the gum tissue.  It is a completely reversible disease.  Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is a waste product (yes their poop) of bacteria that live in you mouth.  Plaque is formed every day by these bacteria and if it is left on or between your teeth it will cause gingivitis and other problems.  If you leave gingivitis alone long enough your body will sense the infection and start to dissolve the bone around your teeth.  Once that bone loss starts you have periodontal disease.  Once the bone is gone it is gone. 

Periodontal disease can be stopped especially if it is caught early.  But again, once you have periodontal disease you will always have periodontal disease.  If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease or even gingivitis your dentist may recommend you come in for a cleaning more than twice a year.  It is critically important that you follow these recommendations. 

In my office I highly recommend the use of a waterpik.  The waterpik is basically a power washer for your teeth and it cleans in between your teeth extremely well.  I have seen patients who have gingivitis start using a waterpik and the next visit their gums look very healthy. 

Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, and problems with an unborn child.  Some dental professionals think it may contribute to far more health problems than we currently understand.

If you have been told you have gum disease, you need to take the necessary steps to treat your disease.  Talk to your dentist to learn more about how to take care of your mouth.

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This is going to be expensive

My patients who don't brush and floss regularly tend to get a lecture about how expensive it will be to fix their teeth down the road.  I usually save this lecture for kids and teenagers, because I've found that adults really don't care.  Yesterday I had a young patient sit in my chair.  He is in his early twenties and is attending university.  He is married and has dental insurance but as with all dental plans it only covers about $1500.00 a year.  He is in for a cleaning and exam.  I start to list off all the cavities he has and there are a bunch.  In fact if memory serves correct he had a cavity on almost every tooth.  I rattle off filling, filling, root canal and crown etc.  In other words cha ching, cha ching, cha ching.  I really did feel bad for this kid.  I can tell they don't have a lot of money, and he is at a major cross road with his teeth.  He either forks out almost $10,000.00, yes that's ten THOUSAND dollars, to fix his teeth or he will be in dentures in the near future.  End of options.  I'm not talking big cosmetic case with veneers, I'm talking fillings and where needed root canals and crowns. 
So as I tell my patients 1 minute a day can save you thousands of dollars, I am not exaggerating at all.  If he had flossed regularly he would be nearly cavity free.  How is that you ask?  Simple, almost every cavity he has is one that started between his teeth.  Flossing prevents those cavities.  It really is that easy.  So for what it is worth, take time to floss.  Or you can just plan on writing a big fat check to your dentist.

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I have a tooth ache

The other day I had a patient come into my office with a tooth that was bothering her.  I took an x-ray and sure enough there was a large cavity that extended into the nerve of the tooth.  She told me this tooth had bothered her a month or so ago and she went to the doctor and they put her on an antibiotic.  She took the antibiotic and the tooth started feeling better at which point she put off going to the dentist.  She was in some pain when I saw her but due to time constraints we only prescribed her an antibiotic and some pain medicine and scheduled her for a time that worked better for her. 
The next morning she called and she said she was swollen and was going to the emergency room.  I knew exactly what they were going to tell her, GO BACK TO THE DENTIST.  We normally start at noon on Wednesdays and stay open until 7.  I came in to see her at 10.  She was very swollen.  I got her numb and did the root canal which turned out great!  But now she will have to wait for the antibiotics to kick in which usually takes 48 hours, and she will probably be swollen for a week or so.  Why am I telling you this?  Simple, if she had come in the first time her tooth hurt she would have avoided a visit to the ER and an emergency root canal and all the swelling.  A general rule with teeth.  If it hurts its most likely going to be expensive and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

That is all