During the past year, medical scientists have linked bleeding gums to some serious medical problems. The position is that people with healthy gums are at lower risk of heart attack and stroke than those with inflamed and bleeding gums: E Poloris, a bacterium which may be present in infected gums, has been identified as a cause of stomach ulcers.

The best preventive measure to maintain healthy gums is removal of the plague which can become bacterial-infected: twice daily by the patient, and two to four times annually by a dental professional.

For years periodontal disease was treated by cutting away the diseased gum. This was painful and disfiguring. Like other bacterial infections, ie. Pneumonia, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics and local cleaning of the hard calcified deposits around the teeth and on the roots under the gum.

I have taken advanced training in this form of periodontal care. My patients have much less discomfort during treatment and have been able to keep their teeth.