Important Facts About Gum Disease

The gums are often the most neglected part of the mouth, as not many people think to care for them. Unfortunately, having unhealthy gums is likely to undermine your oral health. You may end up requiring teeth be pulled, or you may experience chronic tooth pain, both because of your gums.

Dr. Seth Larson is blogging today to bring attention to the gums. In particular, we want to talk about gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, what causes it, what early signs you should look for, and how we can treat it for our Prescott Valley area patients.

What Can Cause Periodontal Disease?

It is normal to have a mouth full of bacteria. In fact, much of this bacteria actually has a positive impact on our oral health. That said, some bacteria has a more malicious intent. This bad bacteria creates plaque on our teeth, a substance that is sticky and colorless.

The creation of plaque is the main reason why a proper oral hygiene routine is required for healthy gums. By brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day, you can remove plaque from your teeth before it can harden and create tartar.

Not only can tartar not be removed by normal brushing, when left alone it can lead to gingivitis. This condition takes the form of an inflammation in your gums, and typically displays itself as red, swollen, and easily bleeding gums. This is the earliest form of periodontal disease, and can be treated by upping your oral hygiene routine and having a cleaning done by a dentist.

If gingivitis is left untreated, you will develop periodontitis. This is the most severe form of gum disease, and it causes the gums to pull away from your teeth. Pockets will also form under your gums. These conditions eat away at the bone and connective tissues that support your teeth, and the damage could be severe enough that the nearby teeth will need to be extracted.

What Habits Can Increase My Chances of Gum Disease?

There can be much more to gum disease than simply failing to properly care for your oral health. In fact, certain habits can drastically increase your chances of developing the dangerous oral disease. Some of these include:

• Stress: When you are overly stressed, your body will find it more difficult to fight off infection.
• Smoking: Tobacco products are full of dangerous chemicals that negatively affect your oral health. The nicotine in cigarettes will also work to attack your gums, causing recession and increasing your risk for gum disease.
• Alcoholism: Because alcohol is a diuretic, you will find yourself urinating more frequently, which will decrease the rate at which your mouth produces saliva. Saliva is important, as it removes gum disease-causing bacteria from your teeth.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease is actually very simple to protect your mouth from. You will simply need to be sure to properly care for your teeth and mouth. This means regular brushing and flossing. You should be sure to brush your teeth at least twice per day, and you should try and floss at least once per day.

Some tips for proper oral hygiene maintenance include:

• Don’t brush or floss too roughly. If your gums are bleeding, you’ve been too rough.
• When you floss, be sure to get between the gums and your teeth.
• Use a toothpaste that has fluoride in it, as this substance can help support your teeth.

Aside from proper brushing and flossing, you will also want to be sure to attend your regular teeth cleanings. During a normal oral hygiene visit, your dentist will examine your mouth for any signs of decay or gum disease.

Signs Indicating Periodontal Disease

One fortunate thing about periodontal disease is that the early signs are pretty easy to notice, meaning you’ll have a good chance of catching the condition before it does any real damage to your smile. Some early symptoms you should keep your eye out for include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Persistent bad breath
• Tenderness
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitivity
• Gum recession

Treatment with Dr. Larson

Here at Larson Dental, we provide four ways of treating periodontal disease:

• Scaling: Scaling is a technique that is used to gently scrape away any tartar on your teeth. This technique can be used to remove tartar from above and below the gum line.
• Root Planing: Sometimes, gum disease creates rough spots on your teeth, where bacteria will gather. Using root planing, we can smooth out these areas, ensuring that bacteria has nowhere to latch on to.
• Medication: Sometimes, we use medication to control the bacteria on your teeth. Medication can also be used to reduce the periodontal pockets in your gums.
• Surgical Solutions: If your condition gets severe enough, then we can treat your periodontal disease surgically. This category of treatment includes flap surgery, bone grafting, and soft tissue augmentation.

Schedule a Consultation Today

If you are suffering from symptoms associated with gum disease, then rest assured that we have the treatments required to relieve your pain and discomfort. To learn more about the treatment options we provide for this condition, contact our office and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Seth Larson today. Your gum health is important and could dictate the path your oral health takes in the future. For that reason, don’t hesitate to contact us today and get the care you need.