Do your gums bleed when you brush, eat or floss? This indicates a chronic infection is present in your mouth. Bleeding gum tissue equals infection, plain and simple. Does the skin on your arm, leg, or face bleed when you touch it? Your gums shouldn’t either.
If your gums bleed then it shows harmful bacteria is present causing an infection which can ultimately transfer through the tissue into the bloodstream where it causes or exacerbates various medical conditions, including plaque formation in arteries which predisposes you to heart disease and stroke.
Another important fact is that long term infection of the gums eventually causes the underlying bone that holds your teeth in to dissolve and be permanently lost. Eventually the teeth become loose and fall out, an important thing if you enjoy eating. The worst part is that none of this infection causes pain until it is too late, and you are about to start losing teeth. It’s a slow and very destructive process.
Screening for oral cancer is important in anyone who is sexually active; this includes both teens and adults. New vaccines that are now accessible for prevention of HPV which may also work to prevent HPV-related oral cancer. At your dental cleaning and examination appointments your mouth should be screened for oral cancer. This usually entails both visual and palpation of the soft tissue of the mouth, throat, neck and face which takes about 5 minutes. A thorough exam like this enables the oral care professional to keep track of any changes within the mouth. Besides visual and manual palpation some dental offices use an oral cancer screening device which use different wavelengths of light to detect tissue changes, sometimes well before they are visible with the naked eye. If you experience any of these common warning signs, please book an appointment with us right away.
In recent years the literature is full of studies that show the health of your mouth is linked to your general health. Gum disease has often been called the ‘silent killer’. For this reason, we are diligent in recommending dental hygiene treatment to rid your mouth of infection, not just observe it because if it is there, it will most certainly get worse over time which will affect both your oral cavity and systemic health. The Cool Dental team is proud to deliver the best care that we can that is backed by scientific research. We want the best for our patients’ oral health and their well-being long term.