Do you or someone you love have Osteoporosis? Did you know that gum disease has been linked to osteoporosis? Osteoporosis and gum disease attack people of the same age range and they work in tandem negatively effecting bone structure. You may think that treatment for such diseases is painful and long term but that is not necessarily true.
The fact that gum disease and osteoporosis both attack the bones works both for the diseases and for the doctors trying to treat them. Long Island Periodontist Dr. Scharf is frequently referred to by dentists to treat and inform people at risk for or currently diagnosed with gum disease. He informs them of how treating the gum disease will greatly reduce the risk of increased risk or problems with osteoporosis. Treating gum disease reduces your risk for bone loss almost immediately. Most people are afraid of having gum surgery and causes them to either put off or avoid treatment all together. Long Island residents can take comfort in the fact that they do not have to have gum surgery but can enjoy the benefits of treatment through a conservative procedure using a laser. The procedure can be done safely in the office of Dr. Scharf who is a Periodontist on Long Island.
Treatments for osteoporosis are recommended to be performed in tandem with treatment for gum disease. Osteoporosis treatment for older women is usually as simple as hormone replacement therapy. The treatment of the osteoporosis will help along fixing damage caused by gum disease, but why let it go as far as to have to worry about fixing bone loss when there is a procedure on Long Island that does not involve surgery and will produce immediate results in terms of halting further damage.
Over 25 million Americans suffer with chronic bad breath. They resort to mints and sprays to mask the odor, but these products do not address the cause of the problem. Dr. Scharf will perform a thorough examination to discover the cause of the problem and devise a treatment plan to address it.
While certain medical conditions such as lung infections, diabetes and digestive imbalances can cause bad breath, most cases of halitosis originate in the mouth. Bacteria that cause gum disease also release gasses called volatile sulfur compounds. These gasses are responsible to the odor of halitosis.
Treatment consists of a detailed review of your medical history and a thorough dental examination. Once the cause of the halitosis has been determined, Dr. Scharf can recommend a course of treatment to address the problem. Many times the results are quick and dramatic.
Tobacco Products and Gum Disease
Of all the risk factors for developing gum disease, smoking is the most powerful. Smokers are more than three times more likely to lose their teeth due to periodontal disease than non-smokers. Nicotine in the blood stream decreases the bodies ability to defend itself against gum disease then impairs the bodies ability to repair itself. We also know that periodontal therapy is less effective in smokers than in nonsmokers. Pockets tend to reform more quickly and regenerative therapy is not as successful. We know that quitting smoking is not easy, but it can add decades to your teeth.
Periodontal Disease and Women
From puberty to menopause, periodontal disease has implications for women.
Puberty
During puberty increased levels of sex hormones will occur. This will cause the gum to become more reactive to bacteria and other irritants in the mouth. This may appear as gums that bleed easily. During this time it is especially important to practice good oral hygiene and have frequent professional cleanings. If not treated, the bone and gum surrounding the teeth may be compromised.
Menstruation
Gum irritation can become very common during menstruation. This is due to increased hormone levels. Increased irritation, sensitivity and bleeding can occur just before a woman’s period. Good oral hygiene and periodontal health can minimize or eliminate these findings.
Pregnancy
Many women feel that tooth loss from pregnancy is inevitable because the baby takes the calcium from the mother. This is an old wives tale. The gums are affected by pregnancy though. Increased levels of hormones beginning in the second month and increasing through the eighth month can cause a disease called pregnancy gingivitis. This condition is marked by red, swollen, tender, bleeding gums. This occurs in response to very little plaque and calculus.
It is very important to make sure your gums are healthy before becoming pregnant. Many times an existing periodontal problem is greatly exacerbated during pregnancy. This can result is tooth loss. Working in concert with your OB/GYN, Dr. Scharf can tailor a preventative maintenance program to keep both your gums and your baby healthy during the pregnancy.
Gum Disease and Respiratory Disease
It’s possible that if you have periodontal disease, you may be at risk for respiratory disease. For a long time we’ve known that people who smoke, are elderly, or have other health problems that suppress the immune system, are at increased risk for the development of respiratory diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
More research is needed to confirm how periodontal disease may put people at increased risk for respiratory disease. What we do know is that infections in the mouth, like periodontal disease, are associated with increased risk of respiratory infection.
Heart Disease and Gum Disease
For a long time we’ve known that bacteria may affect the heart. Now evidence is mounting that suggests people with periodontal disease - a bacterial disease, may be more at risk for heart disease than patients without periodontal disease. One study showed that heart disease was 25% more common in people with gum disease. Men under the age of 50 had a 75% greater risk of heart disease than men with healthy gums. Another study demonstrated that men with gum disease had twice the death rate from heart disease than men without gum disease. These studies suggest that gum disease could be a strong a risk factor for heart disease as smoking which is blamed for 40,000 heart-related deaths per year.
Gum Disease and the Diabetic Patient
Diabetic patients know how important it is to control their disease. But many diabetics do not know there is a relationship between diabetes and gum disease. Each one can make the other one worse. A diabetic is has a greater risk of periodontal disease if the diabetes is not well controlled. Uncontrolled periodontal disease can make it more difficult to control the diabetic state. Diabetics know that an infection will raise their blood sugar. Periodontal disease is an infection that has the same result. If you are a diabetic it is especially important to make sure that your gums are healthy. Your physician may be having difficulty controlling your blood sugar. This may become easier once the periodontal disease is controlled. In addition, your diabetic medications may need to be reduced once the gum disease is controlled. Dr. Scharf will work very closely with your physician to coordinate your care. Healthier gums can lead to a healthier body.
The Genetic Component of Periodontal Disease
For years we have known that not all people get periodontal disease at the same rate or the same severity. Both environmental factors (bacteria) and genetics influence periodontal disease. We now have a test that will determine an individual’s genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease. The test is simple and inexpensive. Individuals who test positive have between a 6 to 19 times increased risk of developing severe periodontal disease. Smokers who test positive have even worse odds. The good news is that this information can be used to design a preventive program to minimize the genetic effect of periodontal disease. It also assures that you are not under or over treated.
The test is done by collecting a small sample of saliva. The saliva contains DNA, which is sent to a lab for analysis. The lab will tell us if you are positive or negative for the gene that causes your body to overreact to bacteria involved in periodontal disease. This information will be used to determine your overall risk profile and tailor your individual treatment plan. Many of our patients ask to have their children tested for this gene. They want their kids to start on the right preventive program before disease develops.
