Periodontal (gum) disease is the term that refers to an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. This condition is typically caused by poor habits of brushing and flossing your teeth that can lead to plaque buildup. In a more advanced stage of the disease, the gums may appear swollen and bleeding, and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

The presence of a gum disease poses a serious threat to your oral health. Research shows that seventy percent of adult tooth loss is attributed to gum disease. Early symptoms of gum disease may appear silent. The symptoms may be painless and mild swollen gums or bleeding while brushing. Regular visit with your dentist is important because a dental professional can detect, treat, and reverse the ugly signs of gum disease.

Who gets gum disease?

Many individuals do not show signs of gum disease until they reach the age of 30 to 40 years. It is almost impossible for the teenagers to develop a periodontal disease. Gingivitis commonly occurs among teenagers. Most commonly, periodontal disease develops when there is plaque buildup along and under the gum line.

What are the risk factors?

  • Smoking. This bad habit plays as the top significant risk factor associated with the development of periodontal disease. Smoking can jeopardize the success of the treatment.
  • Hormonal change among women. Low level of estrogen, a female hormone, can lead to gum sensitivity and makes gingivitis to develop much easier.
  • Diabetes. Diabetic people are prone to develop infections.
  • Medications. Some medications can contribute to the development of gum disease. Antidepressant and antihypertensive medications lessen the flow of saliva inside the mouth. Saliva protects our gums and teeth.
  • Stress. Research shows that stress can weaken the immune system of an individual which makes the person more susceptible to infection, including gum disease.
  • Illnesses. There are diseases like AIDS that make a person more prone to infection, including gum problems.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

The following symptoms are usually evident during the advanced stage of gum disease.

  • Halitosis or bad breath that don’t go away
  • Reddish or swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums especially when brushing
  • Pain upon chewing
  • Loose and sensitive teeth

How can gum disease be prevented?

The ugly signs of gum disease can be reversed in many ways. To maintain a good periodontal health is a serious job and it requires a serious commitment to oral hygiene. The simple tasks listed below should be followed to prevent the onset of gum disease:

  • Brushing your teeth regularly with dentist-recommended toothpaste.
  • Make it a habit to use a dental floss to clean in between teeth.
  • Visit your dental specialist for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.
  • Make sure to eat a well balanced diet.
  • Do not smoke.

What are the treatments available?

The main goal of the treatment is to control infection. The kind of treatment that will be performed vary according to the extent of severity of the patient’s gum problem. Strict and committed daily home care is needed to any type of dental treatment. It is also important to do some lifestyle modifications like quitting from the bad habit of smoking.

Some medications are included in the treatment plan. Scaling and root planning are good options but they cannot take the place of surgical intervention. Dental scraping is a procedure done by dentists to scrape off the tartar from above and below the gum line while root planning gets rid of the rough spots on the tooth root where the germs accumulate and multiply. It depends on the extent on gum disease if the dentist will prefer to do surgical procedure to cure this disease.

It is important to see your dentist regularly. This period will allow you to closely monitor the status of your dental health. It is necessary to maintain a good oral habit to ensure optimum dental health. Be sure to see a competent dental specialist to meet your demands. The state-of-art facilities of Chandler dental office can help you as well as your dentist to plan for your treatment.

 

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