Don’t overlook how much healthy gums can help keep the rest of your body healthy. You hear how important it is to brush, and how having healthy teeth is an important goal for all of us. With all this talk about teeth and bones, sometimes we forget about everything pink, strong gums do for us. They hold our teeth firmly in place, protect our sensitive tooth nerves, and keep the entirety of our mouth nourished and healthy. Long story short, we need healthy gums to keep our smiles and bodies strong. So, it’s a real concern for your Oakton dentist when your smile begins to show signs of gum disease.
When does gum disease become periodontal disease?
In the beginning stage of gum disease (gum disease), the bacteria in plaque buildup. This causes the gums to become swollen, inflamed, and cause slight bleeding when you brush. Even though the gums may be irritated, the teeth are firmly still planted in their sockets.
When gum disease is left untreated for way too long, it advances into periodontal disease. When your gums become this unhealthy, the inside layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and forms a pocket. These small pockets collect dental debris, food, and harmful bacteria. Your immune system fights these bacteria as the plaque grows below the gum line causing further inflammation and gum recession. While the disease is progressing, the pockets get deeper and more bone and gum tissue is destroyed. While this is happening, the teeth are no longer set in place they loosen up, making your smile very susceptible to tooth loss.
What causes gum disease?
There are many different factors that affect your gum health—not just poor oral hygiene. Consider these factors when you think about your habits and if they’re preventing or causing a decline in oral health.
- Smoking makes it difficult for the gum tissue to repair itself.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, puberty, and menstruation, cause the gums to become more sensitive, making it easier for gum disease to develop.
- Illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and cancer can affect the condition of your gums and make it hard to fight off gum disease because your immune system is compromised.
- Medications tend to affect oral health because some create dry mouth, reducing your natural saliva flow (which is a protective effect on teeth and gums).
- Poor Oral Health Habits like not flossing or brushing daily will make it easier for gum disease to develop.
- Genetics also can be a contributing factor in the development of gum disease.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Although gum disease may silently progress painlessly, producing few obvious signs, even within the later stages of the disease. If you notice any of these signs, visit our dental office for help with gum disease in Oakton.
- Bleeding gums during and after brushing
- Tender, Swollen or Red Gums
- Bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
- Shifting or loose teeth
- Gums Receding
- Deep pocketing between gums and teeth
- Changes in the way your teeth fit together when biting down or the fitting of partial dentures.
How can Oakton Dentistry by Design help me?
If you need to try to reverse the effects of gum disease, we offer a few treatments to restore gum health. These options include scaling (the removal of plaque and tartar below the gum line) and root planing, the smoothing of tooth roots to prevent further plaque and tartar buildup. Scaling and root planing can be a wonderful way to get your gums pink, healthy, and strong again. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment!