Periodontal Disease

Three out of 4 Americans are affected by periodontal diseases. Are you one of them? Answer the following questions and find out if you may be at risk.

Oral Health Self-Test

• Do you smoke?
• Are you 30 years or older?
• Are you pregnant?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you have a family history of cardiovascular disease
• Do you grind or clench you teeth?
• Does anyone in your immediate family suffer from gum disease?
• Do you have bad breath?
• Are your gums red and swollen?
• Do you gums bleed when brushing and/or flossing?
• Are your gums pulling away from your teeth or receding?
• Are your teeth ever loose?
• Do you have teeth that appear to be loosening?
• Have you noticed a change in the way your teeth fit together?
• Have you recently lost a tooth?

The #1 reason for tooth loss among adults in the United States is periodontal disease, also known as “periodontitis” or “gum infection”. This silent infection occurs when harmful bacteria travel beneath the gum line and create “pockets” or gaps in the gums around the teeth.

The good news is that there are effective treatments available for periodontal disease. The adjunctive treatment to Scaling and root planing is Arestin. Arestin is a small amount of antibiotic powder that is easily applied by a dental professional down into the pockets. This treatment has been proven to further reduce the bacteria inside periodontal pockets.