Gum disease presents a significant risk to a patient’s dental health and could exacerbate other health conditions. Yet and still, close to half of American adults are living with this condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Know the dangers of gum disease, treatment options, and how you can avoid this oral health problem with the help of Dr. Frank Gordon in Flint, MI.

What Is Gum Disease?
When most people think of oral diseases that need to be treated by a dentist, they think of the decay and inflammation that can happen inside of a tooth. But another concerning form of oral disease is called gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). It causes the slow deterioration of the bone tissue and the recession of gum tissue. Most cases of gum disease are caused by poor oral hygiene (namely, lack of flossing) and some dental experts believe it may run in families.

Dangers of Gum Disease
Gum disease, untreated, can eventually cause affected teeth to loosen. The bacteria can eliminate whole areas of bone over time. It can cause the deterioration of several teeth in the quadrants of the mouth, or all of them. In some cases, the dentist will recommend extracting the teeth before the infection can spread.

Gum Disease Treatments
Trust that your Flint, MI dentist will be able to suggest conservative treatments if you visit the office at the first signs of gum disease. Those treatments include:

- Scaling and root planing.
- Periodontal laser treatment (heat from the laser targets bad tissue while preserving good tissue).
- Antibiotic therapies to keep bad bacteria under control.
- Gum and bone grafting (to rebuild bone tissue).
- Dental implants to permanently replace teeth that are beyond treatment.

Schedule a Gum Examination
When you notice the potential signs of gum disease, visit the dentist’s office for a confirmed diagnosis and early treatment. Call (810) 230-0990 today to schedule your visit with Dr. Frank Gordon at his office in Flint, MI.

What your dentist in Flint wants you to know

Why does your tooth hurt? That’s a good question, and the answer may not be obvious. That’s why it’s important to seek out the help of an expert at the first sign of tooth pain. Dr. Frank L. Gordon Jr. in Flint, MI, is both a periodontist and an endodontist, so he is an expert on the causes and treatment of tooth pain.

Decay is often a cause of tooth pain. Decay is caused by bacterial acid from the sugary foods and beverages you eat or drink. The acid eats away at your hard tooth enamel, penetrating into the soft layer underneath, the dentin. You won’t always experience pain with tooth decay, which is why it’s so vital to visit your dentist yearly for an exam and x-rays to diagnose tooth decay early. Pain from tooth decay can usually be eliminated with a dental filling or crown.

If tooth decay is not treated early, the decay can progress to the innermost layer of your tooth, where the nerves and blood supply are located. This area is known as the pulp chamber. Once decay penetrates into the pulp, your tooth can become badly inflamed and very painful. You may experience sudden, sharp pain or aching when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and beverages, or you may notice increasing pressure and pain. You may also notice a white or red bump on your gums, a sign the tooth has abscessed. Pain from pulp damage can usually be eliminated with root canal therapy.

Tooth pain isn’t always related to tooth decay. In fact, there are many causes of tooth pain, including:

• Grinding your teeth at night; pain associated with night grinding can often be treated by wearing a nightguard.
• Exposed tooth roots due to periodontal disease or gum recession; you may benefit from protective tooth-colored fillings placed on the roots, or gum grafts to cover up exposed areas.
• Abrasion or erosion due to hard toothbrush use, acidic foods, or bad habits; a bonding treatment or filling can often eliminate sensitivity by protecting the tooth surface.

There are many causes of tooth pain, which is why it’s important to seek out an expert for an accurate diagnosis. A good outcome depends on early diagnosis and early treatment. At the first sign of tooth pain, just pick up the phone and call Dr. Gordon in Flint, MI. Don’t wait for tooth pain to become unbearable, call today!

Gum disease threatens the oral health and systemic well-being of millions of people across the US. Loosening teeth, damaging bone and contributing to significant problems with overall health, periodontal problems cannot be ignored. Dr. Frank Gordon diagnoses and treats gum disease in his Flint, MI, dental practice. He can help you maintain your best gingival health.

What is gum disease?

It's an infection of the gums which causes inflammation and destruction of both hard and soft oral tissue. Beginning when bacteria proliferate in between teeth and below the gum line, periodontal disease may be mild, severe, or somewhere in between, exhibiting symptoms such as:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Pain
• Soreness
• Pus
• Bad breath
• Gum recession
• Bone deterioration
• Exposed tooth roots
• Mobile teeth
• New gaps between teeth

The American Academy of Periodontology says that gum disease is prevalent (about 45 million American adults have some form of it). However, many individuals are totally unaware of it and its consequent tooth loss, bone deterioration and health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, and more. In other words, your oral health definitely impacts your entire body.

Do you have gum disease?

When you come to his office in Flint, Dr. Gordon can tell you if you have gingivitis or periodontitis. Measurement of periodontal pockets (the spaces between your teeth and gums) reliably indicates how severe the problem is (deeper than three millimeters indicates periodontitis).

Treating gum disease

While heredity and some health conditions predispose people to periodontitis (diabetes and cancer are two of them), gum disease really is preventable. Common sense strategies for keeping gums healthy include:

• Twice a day brushing and daily flossing
• A healthy diet, including fiber, low-fat proteins, dairy products, and plenty of water
• Semi-annual cleanings and check-ups with Dr. Gordon (more frequent if necessary)
• Smoking cessation and reducing alcohol intake

In-office treatments may include:

• Tooth-scaling and root planing to remove bacteria-laden plaque and tartar
• Installation of antibiotics in gum pockets
• Laser gum surgery to remove diseased tissue and to seal gums to tooth surfaces
• Gum grafting which places donor tissue or gum tissue from other areas of the mouth over exposed roots

Your dentist will chart and maintain a continuing record of your periodontal health so your gums recover and stay healthy for the long-term. Dr. Gordon believes this is a true doctor-patient partnership which can help your oral health thrive.

It's important

Find out all you can about gum disease. Dr. Gordon and his team will help you. If it's time for your cleaning and check-up, please call the office today for an appointment in Flint, MI: (810) 230-0990.

If your tooth requires a root canal, you can rest assured that this procedure is painless and effective. However, properly caring for your teeth after your root canal to ensure the teeth remain healthy is a crucial part of avoiding teeth decay, gum disease, and the need for an additional root canal in the future. Find out more about properly caring for your smile with Dr. Frank Gordon at his practice in Flint, MI.

What makes a root canal necessary in the first place? 
As decay attacks a tooth, it begins on the outside surface and works its way inward, toward the tooth’s inner pulp chamber. This area houses the tooth’s pulp which is made up mainly of blood vessels and nerves. Decay which has not yet infected this inner chamber can be removed and replaced with resin materials during a dental filling. However, once the pulp chamber has become infected, your dentist must remove the contents of the chamber and fill the entire tooth all the way down its roots instead of just the decayed portion of the tooth’s enamel. This process, known as a root canal, cures the decay and restores the tooth.

Avoiding Future Root Canals with Proper Oral Hygiene
Teeth decay begins as bacteria on the teeth which comes from the carbohydrates and sugars in the foods you eat. If allowed to remain on the teeth, the bacteria grows and forms a sticky white substance called plaque. Plaque eventually hardens and becomes a substance called tartar, which then works its way through the tooth toward the inner pulp chamber. Though patients can remove plaque with good brushing and flossing techniques, tartar can only be removed by a dental professional. Since plaque comes off the teeth easily, good oral hygiene can prevent teeth decay from ever beginning, preventing future root canals.

Routine Dental Examinations and Professional Dental Cleanings in Flint, MI 
A good at-home oral hygiene routine should consist of brushing at least twice daily and flossing between each tooth at least once a day. However, this is only one-half of your overall oral care plan. Seeing your dentist regularly for routine examinations and cleanings help your dentist find and treat issues like teeth decay early and ensure that your teeth remain healthy and clean to prevent requiring procedures like root canals in the future.

For more information on proper oral hygiene and routine dental examinations and cleanings, please contact Dr. Frank Gordon at his practice in Flint, MI. Call (810) 230-0990 to schedule your appointment for a regular dental exam and professional cleaning today!

Tooth pain definitely isn't something that's easy to ignore. It can start as persistent tooth sensitivity and progress to major headaches that make it difficult to sleep or eat. It's best to get the cause of tooth pain diagnosed early on so that you have more options when you visit your Flint, MI dentist for help. 

Tooth Pain Causes
The most common cause of tooth pain is dental decay. This happens when a cavity grows to the point where the inner pulp is being irritated and inflamed by bad bacteria. Another possible cause of tooth pain is enamel erosion, where the outer enamel wears down, causing tooth sensitivity. You may also feel some tooth pain if you have gum disease, which causes bleeding and discomfort when you brush. Some patients have TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, which can cause pain in the back molars and jaw. Another possible cause of tooth pain is the teeth shifting and pushing against each other (common for people who still have their wisdom teeth).

Tooth Pain Solutions
The tooth pain solution your Flint dentist suggests will depend on the cause. For instance, problems related to dental decay will be resolved with cavity fillings or root canal therapy. Gum disease can be reversed with periodontal therapy, scaling or root planing. A crown can reinforce and restore a worn-down tooth. Patients who have TMJ disorder can be treated by wearing a special dental appliance. Finally, if your tooth pain is related to your wisdom teeth, extraction may be necessary.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy
After you’ve experienced tooth pain, you want to do everything possible to prevent it from happening again. Here are some tips for how to keep your teeth healthy and pain-free:

- Floss often to avoid gum disease and dislodge particles that could cause you dental pain. 
- Wear night guards or mouth guards to protect your teeth from damage or injury.
- See your dentist at least twice a year for dental checkups.

Get Help with Tooth Pain
The pain you're experiencing doesn't have to get worse—it can get better with immediate treatment. Call (810) 230-0990 today to schedule an appointment at Dr. Frank Gordon's dentist office in Flint, MI.