Jo’s Cafe

Periodontal Surgery

Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth.

Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.

It is 9 pm and after a nice long afternoon nap, assisted by some good meds, I actually feel really good. The left side of  my upper mouth was where the majority of the work was done and I do have stitches. 

No, it wasn’t fun.  The scraping and taste of blood was unnerving at times and I was thinking about all the years of damage I did to my teeth by not taking care of them properly.  Could it have been prevented?  Maybe.  The SGM has it too, and he’s anal about dental care.   I also have two medical conditions that are not conducive to good oral health.

I didn’t grow up with a mother who was strict about dental hygiene.  I learned from a friend’s mother.  Sure I learned how, but I really believe that without being taught at a young age, it was something I had to fight to do.  Sure, I take a bath everyday and I brushed my teeth in the mornings.  But I didn’t floss and I never brushed my teeth any more than in the morning.

Now I brush three times a day, with flossing.  After the initial deep cleaning that brought the pockets up from 9s to 5s on a lot of my teeth, I started the 3 times a day cleaning.  Even old people can learn new tricks.  :grin: My dentist said he could tell the difference.

Being a diabetic means making sure your dental health is above “standard”, as it has been proven it helps keep your glucose in control.  With infections, such as periodontal disease, your body has to fight all the time and this can prevent good sugar control. So, in an attempt to save the few teeth I have, I went through the surgery today hoping to save my teeth and get rid of one more thing that effects my overall health.  

I have no pain.

I can’t brush my teeth where the stitchs are (just the top ones), and its driving me nuts. 

I have these bandages on my teeth, front and back, that are like taking bubble gum and making a long strip of it and putting on the gums.  You can see them when I smile - which means I won’t be doing much of that for a few days.

No sodas.

Nothing but soft food.

The stitches come out in a week.

Please - help your children now and teach them good dental skills.  Doesn’t mean it will prevent it - but at least I hope it slows it down.