Gum Disease Wiped Out With New Laser Treatment

Gum Disease Wiped Out With New Laser Treatment
(Samira
5/4/2016
Updated:
10/8/2018

If you or a loved one has chronic bad breath, it might be caused by something other than your daily cup of coffee. It could actually be a sign of periodontal disease, a gum infection that can travel to other parts of your body.

Periodontal disease starts when tartar and bacteria get trapped under the gum line. In the early stages, you may notice bleeding after brushing. More serious signs include swollen or discolored gums, spontaneous bleeding, and chronic bad breath.

So if you’re ignoring these signs because you think it’s normal, think again.

“Untreated gum disease is constantly seeding bad bacteria into the bloodstream,” said Dr. John Lanzetta, a periodontist at Madison Avenue Periodontics who specializes in advanced dental laser surgery. He said the bacteria contribute “to blood-clot formation in vessels around the heart, leading to stroke and heart attack.”

And there are other diseases, like diabetes, that become riskier if you continue to ignore your bleeding gums.

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