Healthy gums are a key aspect of a beautiful smile, and periodontal disease can cause many different dental problems like loose teeth, sensitive teeth, swollen or bleeding gums, missing teeth, and even bone loss.
The Causes of Gum Disease
There are many different levels of gum disease and it’s estimated that up 80 percent of the people in the United States are suffering from some form of gum disease. Your mouth is filled with different types of bacteria, and much of it is good for you, but there are some forms of bacteria that can cause gum disease problems.
Gingivitis - the most basic form of gum disease is characterized by red, swollen gums that can bleed fairly easily. Gingivitis occurs when too much of the harmful bacteria is allowed to spread on the gums without being taken care of.
Periodontitis – if gingivitis is not treated, it can lead to this more serious form of gum disease. Periodontitis occurs when the gums go beyond the red, swollen stage and actually begin to pull away from the teeth forming pockets of decay within the gums, bone and connective tissue.
Gum Disease Treatments
Although gum disease can be very serious if it goes untreated, you can make sure your gums stay healthy brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day. For most people, this can reverse most of the effects of early stages of gum disease. In addition good oral hygiene, visiting an experienced cosmetic or general dentist regularly and avoiding tobacco products can also help you prevent gum disease.
If the gum disease has advanced past the gingivitis stage and has become periodontitis, there are a few different treatment options that could be used to restore the health of your gums:
* Deep Cleaning – During this procedure, a dentist will remove the plaque and bacteria between the gums and tooth roots and then polish the tooth root so that more bacteria doesn’t develop again.
* Medications – Prescription medications are generally used in conjunction with deep cleaning and can help prevent the onset of gum disease.
* surgery – If your gum disease is very advanced, you may require surgery to remove all the harmful bacteria and plaque; you may also need to have teeth removed. If the gum disease has cause bone or tissue loss, you may need to have bone grafts or tissue grafts performed.
Visiting a qualified dentist regularly can help you identify the early stages of gum disease so that you don’t have to go through any of these serious treatments. If you have suffered from gum disease in the past and now have decayed or missing teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide porcelain veneers, white fillings, dental implants or porcelain crowns so that you can regain your smile.
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