
Research has shown that periodontal/gum disease is caused by the inflammatory reaction to bacteria under the gums, so periodontal disease technically may not be contagious. However, the bacteria that cause the inflammatory reaction can be spread through saliva. This means that if one of your family members has periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to avoid contact with their saliva by not sharing eating utensils or oral health equipment. If you notice that your spouse or a family member has the warning signs of a possible periodontal problem (bleeding, red and swollen gums, or bad breath) you may want to suggest that they see a dentist or periodontist for an exam. It may help to protect the oral health of everyone in the family. (APP)
Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates
Brampton Dentists, Periodontist and Gum Specialist – 905-458-6620

Scaling and root planing is a teeth cleaning above and below the gum-line all the way down to the bottom of the pockets of the teeth. The scaling part is when your dentist or hygienist removes all the plaque and tartar from your teeth and the root planing part is the smoothing out of your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. For some, this deep cleaning, may take more than one visit to complete and may require a local anesthetic.
The Labial Frenum is the attachment of the upper lip to the gums of the upper jaw. In children, when the frenum is too short it can cause a gap between the two top front teeth and limit mouth closure which leads to mouth breathing, slowing down the development of nose breathing. A short labial frenum can also cause the gums to recede.