The Signs
of Gum Disease
The most common signs of gum disease are bleeding from the gums, excessive bleeding from the gums when brushing or flossing, swelling or tenderness of the gums, the feeling of loose or wobbly teeth, changes in your bite or the way teeth fit together, a bad or metallic taste in your mouth, bad breath, or a recession in your gum line. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is of utmost importance that you reach out to us right away. Our quick intervention could reverse gum disease or at least minimize the damage it is doing to your mouth and overall body health.
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Healthy Gums Are The Foundation Of Healthy Teeth
The very best way to keep your gums healthy and prevent periodontal disease is to have regular dental exams and a good oral health routine. However, it is also important to remember that regardless of how clean your teeth may be, unhealthy gums can still create significant issues for your oral and overall health. In fact, periodontal disease can silently damage your teeth and even increase your risk for heart attack or stroke. The latter is due to harmful bacteria entering into the bloodstream.
The good news is that if periodontal disease is caught early and dealt with by experienced dental professionals, it is highly treatable and can even be reversed. The worse course of action is to do nothing, as periodontal disease will not go away on its own and will only get worse. If you’re dealing with symptoms of gum disease or have already been diagnosed, we’re happy to give you our expert opinion and recommend a course of action. Please do not delay as your health depends on effective intervention by qualified professionals, and our dentists here at the Dental Arts Center can help you!
Schedule TodayWhat Causes Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
Periodontal disease is caused by the buildup of plaque. If plaque is not regularly removed at regular dental visits, it then turns into a harder substance known as tartar. When tartar settles into the area where teeth and gums meet it can lead to gum disease. Lifestyle choices can also elevate your risk of gum disease. For example, those who smoke or chew tobacco are also at an increased risk for having periodontal disease. If you or someone you love is struggling with gum disease, we encourage you to make an appointment with us. We will thoroughly evaluate the gums and carefully go over our recommended course of action.
Appointment RequestThe Importance Of Quickly Treating Gum Disease
Since gum disease can silently destroy your teeth or even lead to heart attack or stroke, it is of utmost importance to have gum disease treated as soon as you experience the symptoms such as bleeding from the gums, excessive bleeding from the gums when brushing or flossing, swelling or tenderness of the gums, the feeling of loose or woobly teeth, changes in your bite or the way teeth fit together, a bad or metallic taste in your mouth, bad breath, or a recession in your gum line.
“Like most issues of the mouth, periodontal disease starts with an excess of plaque that hardens into tartar between the teeth and gums. While we prefer preventing this disease from ever occurring through encouraging healthy brushing and flossing habits and regular in-office dental care, we are also experts in treating this condition. If we can catch it early, we can often times reverse it entirely.”
Eddie Lorents, DDS
What Is Gingivitis?
Periodontal disease occurs in two main stages. The first stage is known as gingivitis, and it is by far the most treatable phase. While gingivitis is still bad for your health, it only affects the gums and generally starts from a buildup of plaque near the gum line. When patients have gingivitis, the most common symptom is gums that bleed often – especially when brushing and flossing.
How Is Gingivitis Treated?
Treatment of gingivitis involves scaling and a deep cleaning, which is also known as a root planning or a periodontal cleaning. Our dentists and hygienists are highly skilled at performing these treatments which can reverse the effects of gingivitis.
What Is Periodontitis?
If left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis. Periodontitis is the second stage of periodontal (gum) disease and is diagnosed when it is clear that the disease has spread from the gums (gingivitis) into the bone and fibers of the teeth. Receding gums are frequently infected with periodontitis. When periodontitis is more advanced, this is sometimes referred to as the third stage of gum disease. In these cases, teeth may need to be extracted, and we may refer the patient to a specialist.