Know Your Risk for Gum Disease

Gum disease can be an extremely scary subject. Especially when you consider that fact that it has become an epidemic in the United States. Research has shown that about half of all adults are currently suffering from some form of gum disease, and more than 80 percent of adults will have gum disease in their lifetime.

At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we offer industry-leading treatments for gum disease. Gum disease is not a matter we take lightly because it can affect every aspect of your health. Not only does gum disease make you far more likely to lose your teeth, gum disease has also been linked with potentially fatal illnesses. Recent university research has linked gum disease to things like heart disease, diabetes, and several forms of cancer.

The most dentistry practices start with patient education. So in today’s post of our dental health blog, we’re going to look at several aspects of gum disease. We’ll tell you what symptoms you should look out for, as well as how to treat gum disease when it occurs. The good news is that gum disease is both treatable and preventable!

You may not even know that you have gum disease when the disease is still in its early stages. Gum disease starts as a condition known as gingivitis; you’ve probably heard of gingivitis thanks to advertisements for toothpaste and/or mouthwash. Gingivitis starts when plaque accumulates below your gumline.

If any symptoms for gingivitis are present they will likely include sensitive gums. Your gums may be inflamed or swollen, or bleed easily when you brush and floss. Gingivitis may also make your gums look red in appearance instead of their normal pink color. Recurring bad breath is another common symptom of gingivitis.

Gingivitis is relatively easy to treat. You’ll need to brush your teeth twice a day, and floss them as well. Then a professional teeth cleaning at 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, can eliminate the bacteria and plaque which is causing your gingivitis.

Without treatment, mild gingivitis will turn into a far more serious condition known as periodontitis (also called advanced gum disease). This condition occurs when the plaque buildup beneath your gumline grows large enough to begin separating your gums from your teeth. This allows for the formation of pockets which trap in bacteria.

If left untreated, advanced gum disease will wreck havoc on your smile. The bones and tissues beneath your teeth will become infected and begin to weaken. Your teeth will loosen, greatly increasing your chances for tooth and bone loss. Your teeth could fall-out at this stage, or require extraction to prevent the spread of infection.

At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we are equipped to detect and treat the advanced stages of gum disease. Industry-leading technology like digital x-rays and an intraoral camera allow us to see where the gum disease is located, so we can effectively remove it.

At this stage, we may recommend that you undergo a deep cleaning. This technique is also known as scaling and root planing. This routine technique allows us to remove plaque and tartar build-ups from your gums and teeth. We’ll start by numbing your mouth than we’ll begin to scale your teeth. Scaling is a process in which we remove plaque from your teeth. We’ll then plan your your roots by smoothing them so bacteria cannot cling to them.

If a deep cleaning is not sufficient to remove your gum disease, we also offer the Advanced Atridox^® System. This a an antibiotic which we place directly into the infected pockets of your gum. The antibiotic slowly releases over several days to kill bacteria and stop infection. Atridox^® is a wonderful alternative to traditional surgery on your gums, as it allows for faster healing and is a more comfortable process.

Make an Appointment

Have you noticed any signs of gum disease in your mouth? Red, swollen, or bleeding gums are not something which should be ignored. Schedule an appointment at 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, by calling our office at 972-380-8105.