This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Pinelopi Xenoudi about prevention and treatment of gum disease. Dr. Xenoudi is a periodontist and the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. It's estimated that nearly half of all adults ages 30 and older have some form of gum disease. Doctor Pinelopi Xenoudi is here to talk about preventing and treating gum disease. Doctor Xenoudi is a periodontist and she's the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at the James B Edwards College of Dental Medicine at MUSC. Doctor Xenoudi, tell us about gum disease.
Dr. Xenoudi: Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease. It's basically an infection and inflammation that happens in the tissues that surrounds the teeth. In the beginning stages, when plaque and sticky stuff left over our teeth, they create an environment that the body does not like. Beginning stages are called gingivitis. That's typically when you start seeing a little bit of redness around your gums, and it starts bleeding when you brush. If this condition is left untreated, most of the times it progresses to a more significant and severe stage that is also known as periodontitis. At this phase, bone, which is the supporting structure around the teeth, is getting destroyed. And the ultimate outcome can be tooth loss.
Conner: What causes gum disease?
Dr. Xenoudi: So, the primary cause of gum disease is when bacteria plaque is not removed during your daily brushing and flossing techniques. Other factors that put the patients more at risk for developing this type of diseases include diabetes, medications, hormonal changes, genetics, stress, poor oral hygiene and smoking.
Conner: And tell us more about the symptoms.
Dr. Xenoudi: So, I call periodontal disease the silent oral disease, which means by the time a patient shows symptoms, the disease has probably progressed. So, you start with changes in your color, so your gums look red, more swollen. You start having bleeding as you're brushing and flossing, your breath might be a little bit on the foul side. Your gums might start receding so more tooth structure is shown. The teeth become loose because of bone loss and because of loose teeth. The way your teeth come together is affected as well.
Conner: And how is this condition typically treated?
Dr. Xenoudi: So treatment basically depends on the level of the severity of the disease. So, in the early stages any type of professional intervention, think of it like your regular cleanings when you go to your dentist will help you keep things at bay along with obviously effective brushing and flossing techniques. When the severity is more advanced, then you're going to need a little bit heavier professional interventions, primarily seeing a specialist, a periodontist that will do things from deep cleaning to surgery to try and reverse the damage that's been done.
Conner: And when you think about gum disease, what's your main take home message that you really want everyone to know?
Dr. Xenoudi: I will say two parts. One, that your oral health is not separate from your overall health. One is intimately associated with the other. Let's not forget our mouth is the entrance of everything to the rest of our body. And the last part is prevention is key. Make sure you know how to brush and floss. Don't be afraid if it starts bleeding a little bit. That does not mean that you brush too hard and go and see your dentist.
Conner: Doctor Xenoudi, thanks for talking with us about gum disease.
Dr. Xenoudi: Thank you so much for having me.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
