Think of the great things you’ve passed along to your kids: sense of humor, charm, style, wit—why, the list could go on and on, of course!
Unfortunately, some of the things that get passed from parent to child aren’t that great. One is a predisposition towards periodontitis, or gum disease.
Of the hundreds of strains of bacteria that inhabit your mouth, we’ve turned up five or six particularly aggressive ones and labeled them “probable periodontal pathogens.” These bacteria appear to be responsible for gum disease and also appear to be contagious—that is, they’re spread by long-term intimate contact.
The more we know about periodontitis, the more serious we’re discovering it to be. It’s not just a gum problem. Because it’s an infection, it opens the door for disease and inflammation throughout the entire body.
Increasingly, researchers are linking it with increased potential of heart disease and stroke. That’s why it’s so critical to catch it early and keep it under control. The potential of “transference” among family members suggests that even though only one adult may show perio symptoms, all other family members—especially children—stand a much higher chance of contracting the disease. The fight against perio must be a family affair, and now is a good time to take action. Checkups begin with a baseline measurement of the disease in each family member. The sooner monitoring begins, the less opportunity these bacterial bugs have to do their dirty work and require extraordinary dental responses like root planing and even extraction.
If you or a family member has periodontal disease, the rest of your family is at risk for gum disease. Not sure? Call today for appointments—do it for yourself, do it for your family.
If dental anxiety has been stopping you from making this important appointment, ask us about sedation dentistry and put your anxiety to rest. We’ll answer all your questions and send you a free brochure.
Mark A. Poitras, DDS, practices preventative, cosmetic, implant and sedation dentistry in Valencia at 28212 Kelly Johnson Parkway, Suite 220 and can be reached at 661-775-8822. You may also visit 19310 Avenue of the Oaks in Santa Clarita by calling 661-251-0700.