One important challenge for dental practitioners nowadays is making kids aware of the strong connection between oral health and whole-body wellness. That begins with taking care of the gums — unhealthy gums mean unhealthy teeth, with possible negative effects on the rest of the body as well. 

As we get older, gum disease is the source of a host of ailments: bleeding, swelling, bad breath, pain, receding gums and tooth loss. The problems don’t always stop there, however; gum disease also causes bacterial buildup in the deep pockets between the teeth and gums. Diseased gums are prone to bleeding, which can cause that bacteria to transfer to the bloodstream, putting your child at risk of numerous health problems as they get older: heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, diabetes, ulcers, osteoporosis, and arthritis to name a few.

Periodontal treatment of the gums entails containing the infection via deep cleaning such as scaling and root planing to clear the bacterial buildup at the root of the teeth; Dr. Gibson may also recommend specific toothpastes and rinses to help ameliorate the problem. For more serious infections, antibiotics and even surgery are sometimes necessary.

We thoroughly examine patients’ gums at every six-month checkup. If your child has been experiencing bad breath or bleeding, or complaining of sensitive gums or other oral pain, please contact us; Dr. Gibson will then determine the best course of action to restore their gums’ health.