Periodontal disease can rob you of your beautiful smile. Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis means the difference between easily treatable vs. the threat of tooth loss. If you can catch gum disease in the early stages, it’s usually easily treatable. Left untreated, it can lead to sore and bleeding gums, teeth loss, and infection.
Part of our job at Endicott Dental is to spot the early warning signs of periodontal disease and help you stop it before it becomes more serious. In the early stages, you can do gum disease treatment at home fairly easily. It mainly involved improving your brushing and flossing habits.
In the later stages, it gets more difficult and could lead to surgery or tooth loss. We’ll give you a few tips on how to recognize healthy gums vs. gingivitis, the stages of periodontitis and how we treat it, and what causes gum disease.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is inflammation and eventual breakdown of the tissue surrounding your teeth along the gum line. There are two main stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Redness
- Bleeding
- Soreness
- Loose gum flap between teeth
- Tenderness
- Bad Breath
Without treatment, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. This is a more serious form of gum disease. What are the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease:
- Loose teeth
- Infection
- Changes in your bite
- Severe pain
- Severe bleeding and redness
- Pus pockets around the teeth
- Tooth bone loss
What Causes Plaque on Your Teeth?
Gum disease usually starts with a buildup of plaque on your teeth that isn’t cleaned off properly. Dental plaque is caused by a film that is left on the teeth whenever you eat or drink (except clear water, which can help wash off the plaque).
Bacteria already present in the mouth interact with that film and build plaque, which traps the bacteria against the teeth. That bacteria can weaken the enamel, which is the hard shell that protects the inner, living portion of your tooth, leading to tooth decay. It can also eat away at your gums, causing gum inflammation and your gum tissue to be red, sore, and irritated.
Besides brushing and flossing, reduce plaque by sticking to a low-sugar, low-carbohydrate diet because they produce less plaque than other ingested foods that produce acids. Drink lots of plain water because water rinses off the teeth and gums, removing some of the plaque throughout the day. Minerals in the water, including fluoride, also help protect your enamel and gums.
Can Gingivitis or Periodontitis Be Cured?
In most cases, gum disease can be cured. In the early stages, you can even cure it from home with home remedies that reduce inflammation. Later stages often require your dentist to treat gingivitis. The best way to prevent gum disease is with proper oral hygiene.
You need to brush well at least twice a day for two minutes every time, making sure to not only scrub every surface of the tooth but also scrub the gums, the roof of your mouth, and the tongue because plaque can build up on all of these surfaces. Floss at least once a day before you brush so your brushing removes the plaque and particles dislodged by the floss.
In later stages, your dentist will probably need to help get rid of gingivitis. Endicott Dental will perform a thorough examination and determine whether you need antibiotics for an infection. We can also recommend solutions if your teeth are loose, damaged, or need to be pulled. We offer solutions such as dental implants, crowns, veneers, or partials and dentures.
Top 7 Ways How to Prevent Gingivitis
So how do you avoid gum disease? How to improve gum health? Here are a few tips.
- Bad or neglectful oral health is the main cause of gum disease. Be sure to brush your teeth and floss daily and thoroughly.
- Genetics and diabetes are other causes of gum disease. Discuss any family tendencies or diabetes with your dentist and doctor. It will allow us to be more vigilant in helping you prevent gum disease.
- Pregnancy hormones and morning sickness can make it easier to get gum disease. We can help you control possible gum disease during your pregnancy.
- Tobacco use accelerates gum disease. The best course here is to end the tobacco habit.
- Crooked teeth that make it difficult to clean can encourage gum disease. Consider orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth and make it easier to clean them.
- Certain medications, including cancer drugs and steroids, can accelerate gum disease, especially with side effects such as dry mouth. Talk with your doctor about alternative medications if you start seeing signs of gum disease.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Not only will we do a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums, but we also will do a thorough examination to detect gum disease in its early stages or to diagnose more advanced gum disease or moderate periodontitis.
Gum Disease Treatment in Broken Arrow, OK
Gum disease may start out small. You may not even recognize you have it at first. But when your gums get sore or start bleeding, you should definitely take that as a sign that you may have gum disease.
If you’re in the Broken Bow, OK, area and worry you may have gum disease, schedule an appointment with Endicott Dental. We will bring you in for a detailed examination and recommend the best treatment solutions for your stage of gum disease. The sooner you begin treating your periodontal disease, the easier it is to treat and the better your chances of avoiding tooth loss.
If your teeth are crooked, making it harder to clean your teeth and gums, Endicott Dental can help you by providing orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign. Straighter teeth would make it much easier to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. We also offer cosmetic dentistry services that can repair any issues with your teeth.
Endicott Dental can help you get and keep a beautiful, healthy smile that can last you a lifetime.
