Periodontal or gum disease is an oral disease that refers to an infection of the surrounding tissues that hold your teeth in place. Typically, this condition is caused by poor habits of flossing and brushing that leads to buildup of plaque in the oral cavity. 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 reveals that seventy percent of adult tooth loss is attributed to periodontal disease. The early symptoms of periodontal disease may appear silent. The symptoms may be painless and mild swollen gums or bleeding while brushing. Periodic check-up with your dentist is important because only a dental professional can detect, treat, and reverse the ugly signs of periodontal disease.
Who gets gum disease?
Many individuals do not show signs of gum disease until they reach the age of 30 to 40 years. In rare cases, young individuals develop periodontal diseases. A milder form of gum disease called gingivitis usually occurs among teenagers. More often, periodontal disease develops when there is a buildup of plaque along and under the gum line.
What are the risk factors?
- Smoking. This bad habit is the most significant risk factor that leads to the development of gum disease. Smoking can also lower the success rate of getting treated from this disease.
- 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. There are some medications that can lead to the development of periodontal disease. The medications that lessen the flow of saliva inside the mouth include antidepressant and antihypertensive medicines. Saliva plays a big role in protecting our gums and teeth.
- Stress. According to research, stress weakens the immune system that makes a person more prone to infection.
- Illnesses. Some medical conditions make a person susceptible to bacterial invasion, including gum disease.
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?
There are several ways that can be done to reverse the ugly signs of gum disease. Serious commitment to oral hygiene is necessary to maintain a good periodontal health. To prevent to occurrence of gum problems, it is necessary to follow the follow simple tasks:
- Brush your teeth at least thrice a day with dentist-recommended toothpaste.
- Use dental floss to clean in between teeth.
- Visit your dental specialist for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Refrain from smoking.
What are the treatments available?
To control infection is the main goal of the dental treatment. The treatment depends on the severity of the problem. The type of treatment needed will require the patient to a serious commitment daily home care. It is also important to do some lifestyle modifications like quitting from the bad habit of smoking.
There are medications that can be used as part of the treatment plan. Scaling and root planning are good alternative treatment but they cannot replace the 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.
You should see your dentist at least two times a year. This period is enough to monitor your dental health. You should maintain a good oral habit to ensure optimum dental health. Look for a qualified dental professional to treat your gum problems. The state-of-the-art facilities of Chandler dental will help your dentist diagnose your problem and plan for your treatment.
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