Many people fail to realize the repercussions of gum disease. This is apparent from the stark figure of more than 60 million adults in the US alone who suffer from gum disease. When gum disease is not treated on time, it can have terrible consequences for your health and well-being. This post lists the information you need to know before letting gum disease get out of hand. Without further ado, let’s dig in.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease implies the infection of the gum tissue in the mouth in addition to inflammation. If signs of gum disease are ignored for long, they can result in tooth and bone loss.

Causes of Gum Disease

Bacterial plaque around and between the teeth is the most prevalent cause of gum disease. Plaque activates the immune system, which might ultimately lead to gingival (gum) tissue loss. It may potentially lead to other issues, such as tooth loss, in the long run.

Dental plaque is a biofilm that naturally forms on the teeth. It’s mainly caused by colonizing germs attempting to adhere to a tooth’s flat surface. Although these bacteria help protect the mouth from dangerous pathogens, dental plaque may also promote tooth decay and periodontal issues. This can include gingivitis and chronic periodontitis, a gum infection.

Plaque may solidify into calculus, or tartar, near the gums, at the base of the teeth, if it is not cleaned properly. Only an expert can remove calculus.

Plaque and tartar irritate the gums over time, resulting in gum inflammation at the base of the teeth. This means the gums may be prone to bleeding.

Other Causes of Gum Disease and Associated Risks

• Hormone changes happening through pregnancy, puberty, menstrual cycle, and menopause can cause gingiva, increasing the risk of inflammation.
• Some health problems are associated with greater gingivitis incidence, including cancer, diabetes, and HIV.
• Some drugs may impact oral health, especially if saliva flow is restricted. AnticonvulsantsAnticonvulsants, like Dilantin, and several anti-angina drugs, promote aberrant gum tissue development.
• Compared to non-smokers, regular smokers are more likely to get gingivitis.
• Gingivitis is more likely as you become older.
• Gum disease has been related to a Vitamin-C deficit.
• Individuals with a family history of gingivitis are more likely to have it themselves. This is because of the microorganisms they picked up throughout their childhood.

What are the Early Signs of Gum Disease?

The early stage of gum disease, if left unchecked, can cause a lot of problems. Some early signs of gum disease include the following:

• Separating teeth
• Loose teeth
• Mouth pain
• Receding gums
• Changes in bite
• Swollen or tender gums
• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums

If you sense you have developed gum disease, visit your periodontal specialist right away.

Stages of Gum Disease

Periodontal disease has four stages:

• Gingivitis: The only stage of periodontal disease in which the disease may be reversed is gingivitis. This is because it has not yet begun to destroy the bone. Bleeding gums are an indication that something is wrong at this point.
• Slight Periodontal Disease: While the second stage of periodontal disease is not reversible, it can be managed with a periodontal specialist’s assistance. At this stage, the infection has moved to the bone. Root planing and scaling are procedures used to clean the gums and eliminate bacteria deposits thoroughly.
• Moderate Periodontal Disease: This stage of periodontal disease is more advanced since the infection has progressed further into the gums. To fully clean the gums and remove this infection, the periodontal staff utilizes a variety and combination of periodontal disease therapies.
• Periodontal Gum Surgery: Advanced periodontal disease may need periodontal gum surgery. If left untreated, it may cause holes or gaps in the teeth, gum recession, and serious tooth loss.

It’s critical to treat periodontal disease as soon as possible if you want to keep your smile.

What to do now?

If you seek gum disease treatment, you should do a little homework. The ideal periodontist will determine the kind of treatment that will suit you best. Based on the phase and severity of the disease, an appropriate treatment plan will be recommended. If you get gum disease treated earlier, you can minimize the chances of excessive damage and probably eliminate the need for surgery altogether.

Preventing Gum Disease

Once you know you are suffering from gum disease, you can follow a couple of steps to prevent it from getting any worse than it already is:

• To maintain good gum health, it is recommended that you brush your teeth and gums twice a day.
• Include flossing in your oral hygiene regimen. You may drastically minimize the risk of gum disease. Flossing collects food particles that brushing misses, which would eventually develop into damaging plaque.
• Using mouthwash is a preventative strategy that kills germs in the mouth.

Treating Gum Disease

To treat gum disease, the following treatments can be recommended by your periodontist:

• Deep dental cleaning: All plaque or tartar is removed from the gumline during this dental cleaning procedure. More regular dental cleanings may be recommended for patients with periodontal disease to ensure that it does not worsen.
• Root planing and scaling: This is a nonsurgical and thorough cleaning technique with local anesthesia administered to the patient. Tartar and plaque are scraped out completely. Planing is a technique for smoothing out rough spots on the roots of teeth. This aids in the removal of microorganisms and creates a clean surface for the gums to reconnect to the teeth.
• Pocket reduction/flap reduction surgery: This type of surgery is required for more severe stages of periodontal disease. The gums are pulled back during this procedure so that all tartar can be removed. The gums are then positioned for a tight fit, reducing the gum and tooth gap.
• Bone Grafting: When bone loss occurs, bone grafting is required. An experienced specialist can fix the damage caused by periodontal disease using pieces of synthetic bone or grafts from your bone.

Key Takeaway

First things first- your gum disease will continue to worsen if you do not get it treated. If you want to make sure whether you are suffering from gum disease or not, visit a specialist today. You can ask your family or friends for recommendations if you are unsure about finding a reliable specialist. Additionally, you can also find recommendations online. Be sure to check out reviews to determine if a potential online specialist will be valuable to you. But, if you are still not able to locate a reliable and affordable specialist, feel free to check out Anderson Lake Dental without thinking twice.

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