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Recognizing Gum Disease Early: Why It Matters

Recognizing Gum Disease Early: Why It Matters

Why Early Detection Is Crucial

Periodontal disease affects nearly half of adults aged 30 and older in the United States, according to the CDC. Often painless in its initial stages, it can easily go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. Early detection and intervention are essential for preserving healthy gums, teeth, and even systemic health.

“Many people don’t realize the impact gum disease can have, not just on their oral health but their entire body,” says Dr. Todd Britten. “By recognizing the signs early, we can prevent more severe complications, including tooth loss and increased risks for conditions like heart disease and diabetes.”

Early Signs of Gum Disease 

The following symptoms that may indicate the presence of gum disease:

  • – Red, swollen, or tender gums
  • – Bleeding during brushing or flossing
  • – Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
  • – Gum recession, where teeth appear longer
  • – Loose or shifting teeth

“These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Ignoring them could lead to advanced periodontal disease, which is more challenging and costly to treat,” explains Dr. Todd Britten.

The Benefits of Early Treatment 

Treating gum disease in its early stages—gingivitis—can often reverse the condition entirely. Professional cleanings, improved oral hygiene, and lifestyle changes can restore gum health and prevent progression to periodontitis, a more severe form of the disease that can lead to bone and tooth loss.

“Early treatment is not only more effective but also less invasive and more affordable,” adds Dr. Todd Britten. “Our goal is to help patients maintain their natural teeth for life.”

Why It Matters for Overall Health 

Emerging research links periodontal disease to systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maintaining healthy gums can play a vital role in preventing these health issues.

Take Action Today 

Britten Periodontics and Implant Dentistry urges the community to prioritize regular dental check-ups and educate themselves on gum disease prevention.

To schedule a periodontal evaluation or learn more about gum disease, visit www.brittenperio.com or contact our office at 727-586-2681.

About Britten Periodontics and Implant Dentistry 

Britten Periodontics is a leading provider of periodontal care and dental implant solutions in Clearwater, Florida. With a patient-first approach and a commitment to using the latest technology, our practice helps patients achieve healthy, confident smiles.

The Importance of Gum Health: Understanding Periodontal Disease

The Importance of Gum Health: Understanding Periodontal Disease

Gum health is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissues surrounding the teeth. It typically begins with gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily. Without proper treatment, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, where the infection spreads deeper into the gums and bone supporting the teeth. This can eventually lead to tooth loss if left untreated.

Some Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Smoking and Tobacco Use
  • Genetic factors
  • Certain medications
  • Underlying health conditions such as diabetes

Signs and Symptoms

  • Red and swollen gums
  • Persisten bad breath
  • Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
  • Receding gums
  • Loose or shifting teeth

Complications of Untreated Periodontal Disease

  • Increased risk of systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes
  • Toothloss
  • Jawbone deterioration
  • Significant impact on quality of life

Prevention and Treatment:

  • Proper Oral Hygiene: Brushing and interproximal care between the teeth with floss, proxabrushes or softpicks
  • Regular dental checkups and hygiene maintenance
  • Balanced Diet
  • Avoiding tobacco
  • Managing underlying health conditions

If diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist may recommend professional cleanings, scaling and root planing, antibiotic therapy, or surgical interventions to restore gum health and prevent further damage.

Gum health is a cornerstone of overall wellness, and understanding periodontal disease is essential for maintaining a healthy smile and body. By prioritizing oral hygiene, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, and seeking timely dental care, you can safeguard your gums and reduce your risk of gum disease and its associated complications. Remember, your smile is worth protecting, so invest in your gum health today for a brighter tomorrow!

What do Bleeding Gums Mean?

What do Bleeding Gums Mean?

Problems such as bleeding gums can be a sign that your gumline is not being properly cared for and may need more attention. While you don’t need to panic if you notice that your gums bleed, you do need to take action to help prevent the progression to a more advanced form of gum disease. Most commonly, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is the result of plaque – a sticky film of bacteria forming on the teeth around the gumline or under the gums. Plaque bacteria can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.

The Most Common Cause of Bleeding Gums

In most cases, gums bleed because of the harmful plaque – and the millions of bacteria in it – found at or around the gumline being left to develop gingivitis. Gingivitis, the early, yet still reversible form of gum disease, may require treatment and an improved oral hygiene routine to help reverse it.

When gingivitis begins to cause irreversible damage to the gum tissues or bone, the diagnosis would be periodontitis, or periodontal disease.

How to Stop Bleeding Gums

There are many ways to help improve your oral health and keep your gums from bleeding. Since gingival bleeding is mainly due to inadequate plaque removal from the teeth at or around the gumline, starting an effective oral hygiene routine is a great way to help treat and prevent your gums from bleeding.

Brush at least twice a day: Make sure to brush the dentist-recommended two minutes every session to better remove any plaque that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Consider switching to an electric toothbrush like the Phiips Sonicare

Clean in between your teeth: Flossing, softpicks or using proxabrushes between your teeth at least once or twice a day is one of the most important ways to help prevent bleeding gums and maintain good oral health. It removes plaque and food particles that may be just under the gumline between the teeth, which is where gum disease often starts.

  • Avoid Tobacco: Tobacco use of all types can damage your gums and can also make you far more likely to develop gum disease.  ***Smoking can mask severe gum disease, as bleeding is minimal or non-existent in smokers, but the damage to the tissues is occurring faster, with the blood supply cut off to help the tissues heal. Also, tar builds up on the teeth and harbors even more harmful plaque bacteria.
  • See a Dental Professional Regularly: Harmful plaque bacteria can even lead to issues beyond gingivitis like weakened tooth enamel. Regular dental hygiene visits at your dentist or periodontist’s office will remove plaque and tartar that can’t be removed at home. This will help prevent gums from bleeding and keep your mouth healthy.
  • Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends eating a balanced diet and avoiding between-meal snacking. Also, reducing stress from your life can help prevent gum disease to keep your smile healthy.

Where We’ve Been and Where We Are Going 05-03-2020 Update

Our team at Britten Periodontics has realized the continued importance of strong and on-going relationships.

We want you to know that we are here for you!

Where We’ve Been

When we think about the individuals that bring us joy in fulfilling our vision for health and well-being, we immediately think of you, our patients and friends. We miss you greatly and are continuing to find ways of connecting with you regularly and being available for you in any way possible as we get ready for opening the practice beyond emergency appointments.

The original goal of the reduction to Emergency Care only was to suppress the spread of the virus and reduce the use of protective masks, surgical gowns, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) that hospitals and clinics found in short supply. This also gave us an opportunity to reinforce what we have always done when it comes to sterilization and infection controls, as well as implement additional steps to make sure that every patient can be assured a safe dental experience.

Where We’re Going

We are very excited to announce that our practice will be opening as of 5/6/2020 for a wider spectrum of dental care. And likely on 5/18/2020 for dental hygiene services. We have been working diligently to replenish our supplies, so that we are ready with a new schedule in place that ensures the safety and comfort for both team and patients, as we return to full care and service.

Our team is now reaching out to patients who have had to cancel their appointments due to the shut down as well as patients who are currently scheduled in the up-coming months to confirm new appointments that promote social distancing mandates and protect our most vulnerable. Our new scheduling options are designed to address individual oral healthcare needs and maintain a safe and sterile environment.

Rest assured, Britten Periodontics, as always, will place the health and well-being of our team and our patients first. We will continue to reach out and update you on a regular basis through various forms of contact. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our blog https://brittenperio.com/our-blog/ for up to date information as well as tips and resources on how to maintain your oral hygiene at home during these times.

We look forward to seeing you all again and catching up with you at your next appointment.

Stay Healthy,
Dr. Todd Britten

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

The mouth is a window into the health of the body. It can show signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection.

Functions of teeth

Food needs to be broken down and chewed before entering the digestive system so that our body can easily absorb nutrients from them.

Teeth can help us pronounce accurately.

Teeth can help us look better by giving us a good profile.

Baby teeth can reserve spaces for permanent teeth. Once the permanent teeth start to erupt, the deciduous teeth will fall out and give room for permanent teeth.

Watch this video from Spear Education​:

https://spearedu.co/QjIFQls


“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”: Thich Nhat Hanh

Breakthrough laser procedure to save dental implants

Dental implants are a great way to give you a beautiful and functional smile, they are not without limitations. Some patients could experience swelling or infection around their implants, which is known as peri-implantitis.

If you noticed a change in your implants, Dr. Todd Britten can provide a breakthrough procedure following the LAPIP® protocol.

How the Procedure Works

This procedure is minimally invasive, due to the use of cutting-edge, gentle laser technology. This allows Dr. Britten to treat peri-implantitis without the need for incisions. During the procedure, our state-of-the-art PerioLase laser targets the inflamed area of the gum tissue and eliminates harmful bacteria and infection that has developed. There is no need to worry about an extensive recovery period, sutures or any incisions.

The importance of eliminating unhealthy tissue

Even though dental implants are a great option for patients who have lost their teeth due to periodontal disease, the disease can still continue even around dental implants.

It is essential that diseased implants receive proper treatment as soon as possible to protect these implants, other teeth, bone structure and oral health.

If you think your gums might be inflamed around your dental implants, schedule an appointment with us today. Contact us today to learn more about the LAPIP® protocol and its many benefits to you and your oral health.

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www.brittenperio.com

Seeking Treatment for Gum Disease is an Important Step for Good Overall Health

Dr. Todd Britten cites recent scientific studies when urging patients to seek gum disease treatment before periodontal disease begins affecting overall health.

Dr. Todd Britten, a periodontist in Clearwater, Florida, cites recent scientific studies to help educate people about the connection between unhealthy gums and different systemic health conditions. Citing the ever-increasing studies linking periodontal (gum) health to overall systemic health, Dr. Britten continues to educate his patients about the benefits of seeking gum disease treatment before it begins affecting overall health.

Dr. Britten states that recent research demonstrates that inflammation may be responsible for the association between periodontal disease and other diseases. Dr. Britten states, “There is strong evidence linking periodontal disease to several systemic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well increasing the risk factors and complications of other diseases such as osteoporosis, respiratory disease, stroke and even cancer.”

A recent study in an October 2016 report in the Journal of Periodontology titled “Periodontal Disease and Incident Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies,” (attached) found that individuals with periodontal disease have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Study participants with other risk factors such as frequent alcohol use, smoking, and diabetics demonstrated even a slightly increase in lung cancer risk and that women with periodontal disease are more likely than men to develop lung cancer. A related cohort study stated that oral bacteria may be involved in the development of cancer cells in the lungs, while another study indicates successful treatment of periodontal disease may lead to a substantially reduced lung cancer risk. “This report can be added to the body of literature that associates periodontal disease with other conditions in the body, including diabetes and heart disease,” says president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Wayne A. Aldredge, DMD. “While additional research is needed on the possible links between lung cancer and periodontal disease, we know for sure that taking care of your teeth and gums can reduce periodontal disease risk and possibly the risk of other systemic conditions.”

A 2013 consensus report from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) finds that periodontal health may play an important role in the management of diabetes. The report outlines clinical recommendations for dental professionals to use when treating people with diabetes and emphasizes the importance of annual comprehensive periodontal evaluations (CPE) as part of an effective diabetes management program. The consensus report is based on a large body of scientific evidence that suggests periodontal health may be helpful in controlling diabetes.

“There are many studies which provide evidence indicating a relationship between periodontal disease and several other systemic diseases, including chronic kidney disease, cognitive impairment, obesity, chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. A new study has even revealed a relationship between chronic periodontitis and lacunar infarct, a type of cerebral small vessel disease that can lead to a stroke.” Dr. Britten wants patients to know that while additional research is required to gain a more thorough understanding of many of these relationships between systemic disease and periodontal health, patients should be aware that the associations do exist.

Periodontal disease affects one of every two Americans age 30 and older and is 2.5 times more prevalent than diabetes. Caused by an inflammatory reaction to a bacterial infection below the gum line, periodontal disease can lead to swelling, irritation, receding gums, and tooth loss if left untreated. Dr.Britten’s Clearwater, Florida practice offers many disease treatment options, including traditional or laser gum surgery, replacing missing or diseased teeth with implants, scaling and root planning, and periodontal regenerative procedures such as bone grafting and tissue grafting.

To read more about the findings in recent American Academy of Periodontology reports, visit http://www.perio.org/perio.org/consumer/EFP_AAP_Workshop_Proceedings and to learn more about effects of periodontal disease and treatment options, please visit Dr. Todd Britten’s website at http://www.clearwater-periodontist.com.

Britten Periodontics is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in periodontics, laser therapy and implant dentistry for Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten received his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Dental Medicine and Master’s Degree and Certificate in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at the University of Florida. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. He has completed extensive continuing education coursework, including training at the Pankey Institute, Pikos Institute for Advanced Bone Grafting, Misch International Implant Institute and LANAP Institute for advanced Laser Dentistry. His Professional Associations and Memberships include American Board of Periodontology, American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, Florida Association of Periodontists, Academy of Osseointegration, Upper Pinellas County Dental Association, Pinellas County Dental Association, Top Dentist 2015, Florida West Coast Dental Association and he completed extensive training at the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry. Dr. Britten is part of the one percent of dental professionals offering the FDA cleared laser procedure for gum disease treatment.

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Valuable Information About the Different Types of Gum Disease

“TYPES OF GUM DISEASE (from Mouth Healthy.org)

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.

PERIODONTITIS
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.

Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.

Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.

Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.”

From Mouthhealthy.org (American Dental Association)

This is How to Prevent Re-Infection of Your Gums After Periodontal Treatment

If you’ve undergone treatment for periodontal (gum) disease, you know how involved it can be, whether your treatment required nonsurgical therapy, surgical therapy or a combination of both.

Following gum surgery or scaling and root planing, a nonsurgical periodontal therapy, plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits) are removed and as they heal swollen, red gums finally begin to regain their healthy pink color.

Treatment does not stop there. If it does, there’s a high chance of a re-infection of the gums.

Periodontal maintenance (PM) is important for gum disease patients after treatment. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles responsible gum disease, continue to grow again on your tooth surfaces as it did before. Diligent, daily brushing and flossing to curb that development.

It is also important to keep up regular dental visits for advanced cleaning to remove hard to reach plaque and calculus. For patients with gum disease it is usually four but for some advanced gum disease patients, six times a year, especially just after treatment. Many of our patients alternate visits for periodontal maintenance between our office and their general dentist so that their periodontal condition is closely monitored, as well as the health of their teeth.

Our goal is to reduce the chances of re-infection. To do this, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and any implants for signs of disease (as well as an oral cancer screening). This includes an assessment the health of your teeth and gums and to see how well you’re doing with plaque control and review your recommended customized daily oral hygiene instructions.

Overall, we want to prevent the occurrence of any future disease and treat it as soon as possible if it relapses. Keeping up with homecare and a routine periodontal maintenance schedule will help ensure your gums continue to stay healthy.

If you would like more information on periodontal disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation 727-586-2681.

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