Gum disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among adults. If detected in its early stages, gum disease can be reversed, so see your dentist if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender
• Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
• Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded
• Gums that have separated, or pulled away, from your teeth, creating a pocket
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Pus coming from between your teeth and gums
• Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

• The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. Good oral health will help keep plaque from building up.
• Professional cleaning by your dentist or hygienist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. Your dentist or hygienist will clean or “scale” your teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gumline. If your condition is more severe, a root planing procedure may be performed. Root planing helps to smoothen irregularities on the roots of the teeth, making it more difficult for plaque to deposit there.
• By scheduling regular checkups, early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition. If your condition is more advanced, treatment in the dental office will be required.

It’s easy to prevent plaque buildup with proper care. Make sure to:

• Brush thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque from all surfaces of your teeth
• Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gumline, where your toothbrush may not reach
• Limit sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks
• Schedule regular dental visits for professional cleanings and dental examinations

Proper brushing, especially with a tartar control toothpaste, and flossing are necessary to reduce plaque and tartar buildup.

Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it. The process for removing tartar is called scaling. During a scaling session, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove tartar from your teeth above and below the gumline.

If your blood glucose levels are poorly controlled, you are more likely to develop serious gum disease and lose more teeth than non-diabetics. Like all infections, serious gum disease may be a factor in causing blood sugar to rise and may make diabetes harder to control.

Other oral problems associated to diabetes include: thrush, an infection caused by fungus that grows in the mouth, and dry mouth which can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and cavities.

First and foremost, control your blood glucose level. Then, take good care of your teeth and gums, along with regular checkups every six months. To control thrush, a fungal infection, maintain good diabetic control, avoid smoking and, if you wear them, remove and clean your dentures daily. Good blood glucose control can also help prevent or relieve dry mouth caused by diabetes.

People with diabetes have special needs and your dentist and hygienist are equipped to meet those needs. Keep your dentist and hygienist informed of any changes in your condition and any medication you might be taking. Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is not in good control.

If you have certain pre-existing heart conditions, you may be at risk for developing bacterial endocarditis – an infection of the heart’s inner lining or the valves. Anytime there is bleeding in the mouth, certain oral bacteria can enter the blood stream and may settle on abnormal heart valves or tissue weakened by an existing heart problem or heart condition. In these cases, the infection can damage or even destroy heart valves or tissues.

There are precautions you need to take if you have any of the following conditions:

• Artificial (prosthetic) heart valves
• A history of endocarditis
• Congenital heart or heart valve defects
• Heart valves damaged (scarred) by conditions such as rheumatic fever
• Mitral valve prolapse with a murmur
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Be sure to tell your dentist if you have a heart condition, and what, if any, medications you are taking for it. Your dentist will record important health information in your record and coordinate treatment with your physician.