Got diseased gums? Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a reality for many people, but the good news is that it is 100 percent preventable… and also treatable.
Causes Of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease is an “illness” of negligence. It is the build up of bacteria in the mouth that take kindly to the mouth’s mucus. This plus some other debris create a nice hard surface on the teeth, called plaque. Brushing and flossing regularly is a great way to ensure that plaque does not build up on the teeth. Though, it is simply easy to miss some spots. Other people just neglect brushing and/or flossing and give the plaque a chance to secure to the teeth and gums.
What happens when the plaque hardens is it causes the gums to get red, bleed and become swollen. These symptoms together are called gingivitis.
Gingivitis is reversible with regular flossing and brushing. Going to the dentist for regular cleanings twice a year will work out any hidden plaque too. Otherwise, plaque will form in a very thick layer that’s hard. The gums peel away from the teeth, as a result. This is where the disease starts to take form.
The gums protect your teeth and their roots. With an open season of recessed gums, the air pockets surrounding the roots are invaded by the mouth bacteria to cause pain and infection. It causes teeth to rot, which makes them fall out.
Preventing Periodontal Disease
The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to brush and floss teeth regularly. It’s hard for people to stay motivated. Though, think of the prospect of teeth falling out and realize that flossing is a very low cost way to protect the teeth.
Now, there are also some unfortunate factors that will contribute to gingivitis forming. They include smoking, diabetes, certain prescription medications, and even genetics. Even some hormonal changes for women have been cause for plaque buildup.
Even despite these risk factors regular maintenance still is a great policy to take against unwanted gum disease. Brush twice a day with fluoride. Soft bristled brushes are preferred. Go in a circular motion. Floss nightly if not twice a day. When brushing teeth, be sure to make contact between the brush and all of the teeth.
Need Help Combating Gum Disease?
Even if you are already experiencing pain and redness, you do not have to suffer forever. Other signs of periodontal disease include pain when chewing food, persistent bad breath, and even loose teeth.
The first step is to pay a visit to the dentist right away. In general, they will x-ray the teeth to find out if there is any bone loss occurred already. If you are visiting with a periodontist, then they will have some advice on what to do to manage or reverse the illness.
Removing the bacteria that’s at the root of the disease is the main focus. Next up the aim becomes healing the exposed parts of the gum that have pulled away from the teeth. The idea is to close up the air pockets.
The first step is rough on people who are already experiencing pain and suffering of gum disease. It is a deep cleaning, medication. The periodontist may prescribe or recommend an antiseptic mouthwash. In some cases, periodontal surgery by a dental surgeon is required.
If saving teeth means something, then it is worth the pain and suffering to endure a deep cleaning of the teeth. Instead of waiting for disaster, find a way to keep your teeth well maintained. Just brush and floss daily. For a step up in care, visit the dentist twice yearly.
If your teeth are already bad, make an appointment with a periodontist. That will help to get the teeth and gums back to good health.
