![\"Gum](\"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Gums-and-Oral-Systemic-Health.jpg\")
<\/a>Systemic Health<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The barrier systems of our body need to be healthy as they protect our overall health. A barrier system is meant to keep what’s outside, outside and what’s inside, inside. The 3 main barrier systems of our bodies are the skin, the intestinal lining and the blood\/brain barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here at Integrative Dentistry we believe that your gums are also a barrier system, meant to protect your teeth, jaw bone and the rest of your body from bacteria and microbes that can damage them. So your gums, along with the lymphatic system in your mouth, are a first line defense system protecting the body against foreign invaders. In addition, without healthy gums, you will eventually loose your teeth and lose your ability to chew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are examples that illustrate how important barrier systems are to our health:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- When the gut lining gets inflamed and it’s barrier systems becomes violated or ‘leaky’, it can lead to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, SIBO, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions too numerous to list here. Some of the causes of this breakdown could be poor diet, toxicity, chemicals, drugs, heavy metals, imbalance in the microbiome from antibiotics, and even stress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- When the blood brain barrier is violated, chemicals, heavy metals and microbes can invade the brain causing inflammation, neuronal breakdown and eventual neuronal death. The medical evidence of inflammation in the brain is amyloid plaque, whose effect is similar to the plaque found in our blood vessels, i.e. inflammation. In conditions of the brain, amyloid plaque has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. Research shows that once microbes cross the blood brain barrier they contribute to the inflammatory amyloid plaque found there, and two of the offenders found are P. Gingivalis and Spirochetes. Spirochetes are among the most aggressive bacteria in the mouth. They can change form to evade an immune response and will bore into cells to replace and destroy healthy tissue. They often contribute to gum disease, as illustrated in this video.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- When the placental barrier is violated by mercury, which is a heavy metal, it can lead to adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth (PTB: <37 weeks vs 39 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (LBW: <5.5 lbs) and can result in severe infant morbidity and mortality. This is why some of our patients have their mercury levels tested and amalgam fillings removed before they become pregnant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Can I Tell if I Have Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to tell if you have gum disease is by their look and feel. If your gums look red and bleed when you brush or floss, this is usually an indicator of gum disease. Another warning sign is if the gums are sensitive to the touch or if your teeth are loose. If you have these problems, you should definitely see a dentist or specialist to evaluate what is going on, as this is a situation that can only get worse over time. From a preventive standpoint, you would want to establish a baseline of how your gums look when they are healthy. Valuable input about this will come from your dentist and the dental hygienist who cleans your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Periodontal](\"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/DSC_0742-1024x680.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nHere is an example of what gum disease can look like. Notice the pale, unhealthy looking color of the gums and the tissue loss, especially on the lower front teeth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"After](\"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/DSC_0853-1024x680.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nHere is the same patient after treatment. Notice the improved tone, texture and color of the gums, including how they filled in the gaps between the teeth. This was done with a combination of cleanings and gum work, home care instruction, veneers and implants. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cause of Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To summarize, bacteria that live along and under your gums cause the inflammation that can result in gum loss and loss of bone around your teeth. These bacteria are the bad actors that can live in an oxygen depleted environment, thus they are coined ‘anaerobic bacteria’. These anaerobic bacteria release very toxic waste and byproducts (basically bacteria poop) into the gap between your gums and teeth. The toxicity of this bacteria waste causes inflammation, redness and bleeding in our gums. If this inflammation is allowed to remain unchecked and untreated it eventually results in loss of gum and bone tissue around our teeth (and often inflammation in our bodies, as described above. This is the hallmark and definition of gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Intraoral-Structures.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe First Line of Defense – Home Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Actually the most important thing you can do is keep your teeth and gums clean. For most people this means brushing, flossing and using a rubber tip daily. At Integrative Dentistry we replace your toothbrush and rubber tip every time you come in for a cleaning. (You may consider replacing your tooth brush even more often).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of using these tools is to remove the white film that collects along your gum line and between your teeth. This white film is called plaque and is the primary food source for bacteria in your mouth. Once bacteria colonizes plaque it will start to create inflammation in the gums and bone of your teeth. This is the precursor to red and bleeding gums and gum disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to learn more about home care and the tools that matter you can ask during your next cleaning appointment. This is the right time to ask. Don’t be shy. It’s very important that you be doing this correctly. It makes all the difference in the world for your teeth and gums. In the meantime you can go here to read more about these tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n