There’s an old saying that goes: save your gums - or lose your teeth. Every day we dentists see the sad proof of that old saying.  Gum disease is a serious threat to dental health, particularly for adults. It’s incredibly widespread.  And yet most Canadian adults don’t really understand gum disease very well at all.  
In a sense, gum disease works undercover - in the space where the gums attach to the teeth.  It begins as a mild infection.  But left unchecked, it progresses, eventually destroying the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.   

Gum disease can progress very far before the symptoms become readily noticeable.  There is no pain and no discomfort in the early stages.  

There are things dentists can do to detect gum disease at an early stage, when it’s still reasonably easy to treat.  We look out for symptoms at every checkup.  But in the interest of prevention, we also feel it’s important to help raise your “gum awareness”, because there are some things you can look for, too. 

Examine your gums periodically in the mirror.  Your gums should be light coral pink in colour, firm, resilient, have a stippled texture, and fit tightly around the teeth. 

Any of the following symptoms indicate that your gums are in need of attention: red halos on the gums around the teeth; red, shiny, puffy gums; gums that bleed when you brush or floss; discharge from the gums; chronic bad breath; or any shifting or loosening of teeth. 

Left undetected and untreated, gum disease causes the gums to recede, exposing the roots of the teeth.  Pockets develop around the teeth and the teeth begin to loosen.  And after a while, they fall out. 

Several of our younger patients are cavity free at their 6, 9 or 12 month appointments.  They become members of our cavity free club and we congratulate them. 

For the past few months, they are: 

Message from Gail:

Dr Ross will be away the first week of August. Dr Noel will be away from August 7th until the 21st.

Please consider this when scheduling your appointments.

Thanks.

We are holding a contest to rename the office newsletter.  All suggestions will be considered and we will be awarding a prize.  The contest will run from November 1st 1998 until March 31st 1999, with the winner being announced in the Spring Issue of the Dental News. 
 
The prize to be awarded will be a free “checkup and cleaning” appointment (maximum $85 value). 

Our office are changing... in November they switch to:  

Monday      8-8pm  
Tuesday      8-4pm  
Wednesday 8-8pm  
Thursday    8-8pm 
 

Lately we’ve been prescribing a new type of rinse after deep cleaning appointments. 

This rinse has antibacterial, anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis properties.  The active ingredient in the rinse is called chlorhexidine (.12%).

Using this rinse for ten days after cleaning inhibits the growth of bacteria in your mouth.  One small potential side effect of chlorhexidine use is staining of the teeth.  This stain is not permanent and can easily be removed at a subsequent appointment

I cannot say that it works wonders, but it really does help with the state of your gums.
 

Lisette

If you participate in any of the following sports, you should speak to us about custom fitted mouthguards:
baseball, basketball, boxing, equestrian sports, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, judo, karate, lacrosse, motocross, martial arts, rugby, racquetball, skiing, soccer, squash, surfing, skateboarding, trampoline, volleyball, wrestling and weightlifting.
 

Mouthguards can protect more that just your teeth. In the event of a serious accident, a mouthguard helps distribute the force evenly throughout the skull, lessening the chance of concussions or other serious injuries. They also protect your tongue and cheeks from being cut by your teeth during impact.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please call Gail at 733-5190, or visit us on the web at:
 
 

Archive:

Issue #13 Winter 1999/2000
Issue #12 Fall 1999
Issue #11 Spring/Summer 1999
Issue #10 Winter 1998
Issue #9 Summer 1998
Issue #8 Spring1998
Issue #7 Winter 1997
Issue #6 Fall 1997
Issue #5 Spring-Summer 1997