Gum Disease

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is caused by bacterial infection in the mouth. When plaque (a sticky mixture of bacteria, mucus, food particles, and minerals) is not removed from around the teeth and gums, it hardens into tartar/calculus. Tartar or Calculus fosters more bacteria and leads to irritation of soft tissues in the mouth. If left unchecked and untreated, the infection spreads to bone which supports teeth. As a result, the bone around the teeth starts to dissolve and the teeth get lose and ultimately fall out of the mouth.

Gum disease is serious.

Do I have gum disease?

• Bleeding gums – Your gums should not bleed at all, even when you brush hard or use dental floss.
• Receding gums – Gums that are moving away from the tooth and exposing your roots, could be a result of gum disease.
• Bad breath – Caused by bacteria in the mouth, and will not go away even if you brush your teeth.
• Puffy and red gums – Your gums should not be red or swollen.
• Spaces between teeth or shifting of the teeth - Caused by bone loss.
• Loose teeth – Also caused by bone loss.
• Pus around the teeth and gums – An indication that there is an infection present.
• Discomfort or Tenderness – Plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth.

If you have noticed any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above, you might be at risk of gum disease and you should contact Bristol Dental & Orthodontics for an evaluation of the health of your gums.

The American Dental Association (ADA) and The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) have published studies that indicate 4 out 5 people has some form of gum disease and are not aware of it. That is because the disease is painless in its early stages.

The same bacteria that causes gum disease is responsible for triggering heart disease, stroke, and other disease due to the inflammatory response. Once the bacteria spread throughout the blood stream, arteries and veins become inflamed and the inflammation starts spreading to all body parts through the blood supply. Research shows that patients with periodontal disease have nearly twice the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

People with the following diseases are at higher risk of infections due to gum disease:

- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease (Emphysema, Bronchitis, and COPD)
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease

Some patients have a genetic predisposition to gum disease. However, the primary cause is poor oral hygiene – lack of proper brushing and flossing at home, and regular dental cleanings.

Some medications and diseases like diabetes, cancer, chemotherapy, and smoking can increase threat of gum disease. If you have any of these risk factors, home oral care is even more critical.

We treat patients with gum disease, following the four-quadrant deep cleaning procedure recommended by the ADA and the AAP. With anesthetic for your comfort, we scale and plan surfaces deep under the gums and between teeth, to remove toxins.

At Bristol Dental & Orthodontics, we are firm believers that deep cleaning should be done once in a lifetime. Getting down to healthy gum tissue is a team job. What we do is about 20% percent of the cure. We educate you on the disease and how to improve home care and create good habits like flossing daily. The other 80% is up to you – keeping your mouth clean on a daily basis. Our staff will provide thorough education and instruction on home oral hygiene.

We use the latest technology to clean your teeth using Ultrasonic Scalers. These instruments are designed to break the build up and calculus by just touching them. They maximize patient comfort, you no longer have to deal with sharp instruments poking and tearing your gums.

As your trusted partner in dental care, the professional team at Bristol Dental and Orthodontics will help you remain free of gum disease so you keep your teeth for life.


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