We’ve known for a long time that gum disease can cause tooth loss. Now, more than ever before, we understand the importance of having perfectly healthy gums. Studies, conducted over the last several years have found a definitive link between inflammatory gum diseases and several serious health problems. Toxins from bacteria and inflamed gum tissue, even live bacteria themselves, have been found to enter the bloodstream and increase the risk of the following:

• Coronary Heart Disease/ Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Pulmonary (lung) Disease
• Diabetes
• Early Labour/ Low Birth Weight Babies

Although the dental community has known for decades that bleeding gums are a sign of inflammatory disease, not until recently has the condition been considered a serious health risk. Gums that bleed with gentle probing have been so common as to be almost considered “the norm”.

The response to this disease was to continue conventional hygiene procedures such as cleanings on a twice yearly basis to remove build-up of plaque and tartar. We responded to the disease by using the procedures and tools that were available at the time, but often that wasn’t sufficient if gum bleeding persisted.

Why weren’t conventional hygiene procedures working?
After conventional hygiene procedures, the inflamed, unhealthy gum tissue was left behind for the body to heal on its own. Unfortunately, the bacteria that cause gum disease start to re-organize 24 hours after the hygiene services. This means that there was actually very little disruption of the disease process.

How do we address this problem?
The answer is in what we callPerio Therapy – a series of specialized hygiene visits over a period of several weeks. During these visits, we use refined debriocment techniques coupled with antimicrobion therapy and laser therapy. With these advanced techniques we can disrupt the disease process and allow healing for many weeks or months. A vast improvement over the 24-hour period we were achieving beforehand.

Learn more about health issues associated with gum disease »