In the United States, as many as 2 in 5 adults are affected by some form of gum disease. Many of these patients may not even be aware of it in the earlier stages, as the early signs of gum disease can be subtle. To keep your smile healthy, you need to learn what to look out for, how to care for your smile, and what to do when gum disease strikes. At Healthy Habit Dental Care, we take the time to educate our patients and provide the care they need to keep their smiles healthy. If you believe you may be dealing with periodontitis, visit us in Temecula, CA, for a better look into your oral health and how to improve it.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, or periodontitis, is an inflammatory condition that starts in your gums, but can spread throughout your mouth. In fact, gum disease works in stages. The longer you go without treatment, the worse your infection will be.
It starts as gingivitis, a mild infection of the gums. This stage can be difficult to notice if you don’t know what to look for, as the symptoms are usually discreet. Any damage done to your smile by gingivitis is easily fixable, as gingivitis has reversible effects.
But without treatment, gingivitis becomes moderate periodontitis. This stage is more serious, as the infection will spread past your gums and potentially reach your jawbone. At this stage, you need prompt action, and are likely experiencing some discomfort or pain due to the infection.
The next stage is advanced periodontitis, which is the most dangerous to your oral health. If your disease spreads, the infection will reach below your gums and infect neighboring teeth. With advanced periodontitis, your gum and bone tissue will be undergoing permanent, non-reversible damage.
As someone struggling with severe gum disease, your only path towards a healthier smile is to come in for gum disease treatment.
5 Signs of Gum Disease To Watch Out For
Because gum disease progresses in stages, its signs increase in severity.
1. Bleeding Gums
It’s not uncommon for gums to bleed every once in a while, especially after brushing your teeth too hard. But frequent gum bleeding from tooth brushing or anything else is typically a sign of infection. While dealing with gingivitis, you may find your gums extra sensitive and inflamed.
2. Bad Breath
Most people aren’t strangers to bad breath. But chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away with brushing is a sign of something much worse.
Untreated gingivitis may produce an unpleasant odor that lingers, even leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
3. Swollen Gums
While irritated and sensitive, your gum tissue may become inflamed. Swollen, red, or purple gums are often a sign of infection. And while your gums can swell from other causes, inflamed gum tissue can be a sign of advancing gum disease.
4. Gum Recession
As gum disease develops, your gums may begin to pull away from your teeth. Patients with gum disease will find that their gums recede, exposing more of the tooth root that’s normally hidden by the gums.
5. Periodontal Pockets
A dental abscess, or periodontal pocket, is a small gap between your gums and your teeth. This gap then fills with harmful bacteria and debris, causing discomfort, pain, and worsening gum disease symptoms. By this stage, your gums and jawbone are experiencing permanent damage that we can’t reverse. The only way to treat your smile is to come in to Healthy Habit Dental Care.
Common Gum Disease Treatments
The best treatment for your gum infections depends on what stage you’re in.
The effects of gingivitis are reversible, even with at-home care. If you take the time to brush your teeth and floss regularly, you may be able to get the infection under control. However, we still recommend coming in for a professional cleaning to remove all signs of bacteria.
Moderate periodontitis will begin affecting the area beneath your gums, requiring more intensive treatment. With a professional deep cleaning (like scaling and root planing), we can combat infection and alleviate discomfort. While any gum or bone tissue loss can’t be reversed, we can stop the spread of infection and help you manage your symptoms.
Finally, advanced periodontitis needs immediate attention. With this severe of an infection, you’re at risk of losing significant jawbone structure, as well as some teeth, as the bone holding them in place weakens. To treat advanced gum disease, we use intensive treatments that clean your smile and stop the spread of infection. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, we can help remove infected tissues and rid your smile of bacteria.
Then, any gum or bone loss you experience will need to be remedied through a grafting procedure that rebuilds your smile.
Get Your Oral Health Back on Track in Temecula, CA
Gum disease is common in the United States, so it’s important to recognize the signs. Bleeding or swollen gums, as well as bad breath, are common signs of the earliest stage of infection: gingivitis. And as the infection progresses, it becomes more dangerous, affecting your gums and bone tissue. Only prompt treatment can reverse the effects of gingivitis or stop the progression of periodontitis. Please contact us as soon as possible for gum disease treatment and any oral hygiene tips.
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