Do You Know Your Risk for Gum Disease?

Greetings Plano! Welcome back to the ongoing dental health blog of 1st In Smiles. The calendar is nearly ready to turn over to the New Year! It seems like just yesterday we were preparing our younger patients for a new school year. We hope you have had a wonderful holiday season, and are ready for a healthy 2016.

But there’s one area of your health which gets overlooked far too often: your gums. Gum disease affects millions of people every year. Based off statistical averages, you’ll probably have to deal with it at some point in your life. At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we offer gum disease treatment because your gums are just as important to your smile as your teeth.

Gum disease is a serious threat to the health of your smile, it can wreck you breathe and make your teeth fall-out. But the threat posed by gum disease may not end at your smile. Recent research has linked gum disease to many other illnesses including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

In today’s post of our dental health blog, we’re going to provide you with an in-depth look at the oral health problems caused by gum disease. We’ll look at how gum disease can progress from relatively mild gingivitis into dangerous periodontitis. We also let you know what you can expect if you need to be treated for gingivitis or periodontitis at 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX.

The First Stage of Gum Disease: Gingivitis

The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis occurs when plaque and tartar buildup on and beneath your gumline. Plaque is an acidic, yellow film of bacteria left behind by the foods and beverages you consume. Nearly all adults will suffer from gingivitis at some point in their lives.

You could currently have gingivitis and not even realize it. That’s because gingivitis often presents no symptoms at all. But as it progresses, you may notice swelling and inflammation in your gums. Your gums may look red, and bleed when you brush your teeth. Gingivitis can wreck your breath and make your teeth sensitive to hot or cold beverages and foods.

Treatment for Gingivitis

Luckily, gingivitis is easy to treat. Because there’s not yet any permanent damage to your gums, all you need to reverse the course of gingivitis is a dental cleaning. At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we recommend having your teeth cleaned every six month. Regular teeth cleanings and twice-daily brushing and flossing are all you need to cure gingivitis.

The Second Stage of Gum Disease: Periodontitis

Periodontitis, also known as advanced gum disease, can cause serious damage to your smile. When gingivitis is left untreated, plaque continues to build up at and below your gumline. This causes your gums to begin to pulling away from your teeth.

You may notice nasty pockets of bacteria, or that your teeth are looser than normal. Advanced gum disease can loosen your teeth to the point where they fall-out. Once you’ve lost a single tooth, your risk for losing additional teeth greatly increases. Advanced gum disease can cause infections in your teeth, necessitating their extraction.

Treatment for Gum Disease

At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we offer advanced treatment for gum disease including deep cleanings and antibiotic treatments. During a deep cleaning (also known as scaling and root planing), we begin by numbing your mouth. Then we remove plaque and tartar buildups from on and around your gums. We also smooth out the roots of your teeth, which helps them re-attach to the tissue of your gums.

If a deep cleaning is not sufficient to treat your advanced gum disease, we also offer the advanced Atridox^® system. This is a special antibiotic which we place directly into the pockets on your gums caused by gum disease. Atridox^® slowly releases and kills infections, while helping your gums to heal.

Make an Appointment

Have you noticed any potential signs of gingivitis or advanced gum disease? Don’t ignore swollen or bleeding gums! Even if it’s just been more than six month since your last dental cleaning, you should contact 1st In Smiles for an appointment. You can reach our comfortable Plano office at 972-380-8105.