It happens. You fall asleep without brushing your teeth a few nights, skip a few cleanings, consume some fast food, smoke a few cigarettes, suffer from dry mouth, or have a hereditary proclivity and your gums flare up with an infection.

Over 85 percent of people in the United States have some level of gum (periodontal) disease and approximately 40% of all adults have chronic periodontal disease.

We are on a mission to change those statistics – at least for our Rockland-area patients, not only because gum disease can lead to loose or lost teeth, but also because periodontal infections can have seriously adverse effects on your overall health.

But how do oral bacteria get from your mouth into your system? The skin inside your mouth is known as the “oral mucosa” and is rich with blood vessels. Because of this, the oral mucosa is very permeable allowing bacteria, and the toxins they produce, to get into your bloodstream especially when you chew. Once in your bloodstream, the infectious bacteria of periodontitis can significantly lower your immune system and cause all kinds of other health issues. Bacteria from gum disease are also taken into your lungs when you breathe, further compromising your system. What’s more, gum disease is contagious, and it isn’t only your partner or spouse who can be affected by it. DNA tests show that periodontal infection is transmitted directly from parent to child, as well.

If you have any of the following symptoms, please call us and schedule a periodontal consultation right away:

• Gums are red, swollen, or tender
• Gums bleed when you brush, floss, or eat hard food
• Gums are pulling away from your teeth
• Teeth are loose or developing new gaps, or the way your teeth fit together is changing
• Bad breath has become chronic or noticeable
• You notice pus between your gums and teeth

Dental Arts of Rockland can help with a painless and effective course of treatments that may include:

• Ultrasonic deep cleaning using sound waves for effective and gentle scaling and root planing
• Soft tissue lasers to remove diseased tissue and reshape gums
• Powerful antibiotics, such as Arrestin with microspheres that stay under the gums for up to 21 days