Gum disease (periodontal disease) does not hurt. That’s the major problem. Gum disease is an infestation of bad-bacteria below the gum line, which cannot easily be removed. This causes attachment loss and bone loss.

Most people are worried about gum-recession, when the problem is attachment recession. The first misconception is that your gums are attached to your teeth where you see them. The attachment is actually several millimeters below where you see your gums on your tooth. The hygienist / dentist will take an instrument and slide it along the root-surface of your tooth. When he or she feels resistance, this is the attachment level. The instrument is now below the gums, and a measurement can be made. Anything more than three millimeters is considered periodontal disease. Your gums do not have to recede to get gum-disease. It is the attachment level that we are interested in. This creates a pocket or an un-cleansable area which now harbors bacteria. If these bad-bacteria produce toxin, the body’s response is to pull back, this causes more problems. So as this pocket gets larger, inflammation of the gum tissue increases, this often causes bleeding upon brushing. This is a sign of gum-disease.

There are many different treatments. One is to go to a periodontist. (Gum specialist) The first treatment is usually deep cleanings. The root surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly to allow the attachment to come back. Aids to this are water picks, lasers, peroxide based toothpaste, such as Rembrandt, and other surgical procedures.