Oral health transcends beyond straight teeth and a brilliant smile. It encompasses your gums — the tissue that surrounds and protects your teeth and underlying bone.
This article is for you if:
You want to learn how to take care of your gums, as well as how to prevent gum disease.
Your gums are swollen, sensitive, and prone to bleeding.
You noticed that your gums are pulling away from your teeth, and you want to know how to stop receding gums before it's too late.
Familiarizing yourself with the facts about gum disease is the first step toward prevention. To help you maintain optimal oral health — and to bring awareness to National Gum Care Month — our team here at Cunning Dental has put together a comprehensive guide to gum care, disease prevention, and periodontal treatments.
First, what is gum disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is the infection and inflammation of the gum line. Due to the slow nature of its progression, the disease may begin in the teenage years and go unrecognized by an individual until he or she is 40 or 50 years old, by which the disease might have progressed and affected the bone surrounding and supporting the teeth.
Buildup of plaque, which is a thick and sticky film of bacteria that accumulates around teeth and gums, is responsible for causing gum disease. Failure to see a dentist for regular teeth cleaning sessions enable plaque to harden and turn into tartar within a matter of days. In fact, according to Humana, a for-profit American health insurance company, "Most plaque hardens within 48 hours of formation, and within several days, it will become so hard that it is almost impossible to remove." The only way to remove tartar is to see a dentist for a professional scraping of your teeth.
Furthermore, plaque can continue to form on the tartar. Therefore, without proper treatment, it can cause a range of general health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.
From least to most severe, here are three stages of gum disease:
Gingivitis. This common and mild form of gum disease causes irritation, inflammation, redness, and bleeding of the gums around the base of your teeth. As the earliest form of periodontal disease, gingivitis is reversible, particularly since the connective tissue and bone holding your teeth in place are not affected.
Periodontitis. The emergence of pockets below the gum line characterizes periodontitis. Having this progressive stage of gum disease means the supporting bone and fibers holding your teeth are irreversibly damaged. In consequence, the gums begin to separate and recede from teeth.
Advanced periodontitis. At this stage, gum disease has destroyed the bone and fibers of your teeth. As a result, your teeth would begin shifting and loosening, and you may experience dramatic changes to your bite and speech. Undergoing tooth extractions may become necessary to eliminate further infection.
47.2 percent of adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal (gum) disease, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Are there ways to prevent gum disease?
Ensuring you are one step ahead of periodontal disease by maintaining good oral hygiene is an excellent place to start. Consistent tooth brushing and flossing are the most effective preventive measures for removing food particles and plaque, which can then inhibit the occurrence of gum disease. Rinsing with therapeutic mouthwashes may also help reduce plaque, prevent or reduce gingivitis, and slow tartar development, according to the American Dental Association. It does not matter whether you brush, floss, or rinse first. Just do it thoroughly and use the right oral care tools and products.
Smokers, another valid reason to quit your bad habit or seek help for your nicotine addiction is the strong link between smoking and gum disease. Smoking and using tobacco products play a significant role in weakening your immune system. The 4000+ constituents in tobacco smoke, including carcinogens and dozens of other harmful substances, make it difficult to fight off gum infections. Plus, they slow down the body's ability to heal.
Visiting your dentist regularly is another way to prevent periodontal disease. However, don't wait until you develop symptoms. By the time you experience pain, inflammation, and bleeding, the chances are high that your gums already have an infection, or are in an advanced stage of gum disease. Avoid the worst with biannual dental visits for routine checkups and cleanings.
Read 9 Steps to Achieving Healthy Teeth and Gums All Year Long for more information on how to improve your oral health today.
What are the treatments for gum disease and gum recession?
As mentioned, brushing and flossing cannot remove tartar. Your dentist in California will need to perform a dental cleaning to remove the stubborn substance from your teeth. After which, the first nonsurgical step in treating gum disease involves a special procedure called dental scaling and root planing. This quick and easy process effectively removes plaque and tartar deposits on tooth and root surfaces. Moreover, scaling and root planing in California shrinks periodontal pockets, as well as allows gum tissues to heal and reattach to the tooth.
Following your first treatment for periodontal disease, your periodontist will examine the pocket depth. If your periodontal pockets are 5mm deep or more, then surgery may be necessary to prevent tooth loss. Once your treatment is complete, your periodontist will conduct checkups at regular intervals.
Return to optimal oral health
Cunning Dental Group offers some of the best gum disease treatment programs in Irvine and Montclair, CA. Our dental professionals are some of the most proficient in the industry, ensuring that you receive the highest level of treatment to prevent dental health issues in the future.
If you suspect an infection in your oral cavity and require gum infection treatment, do not wait for your dental health deteriorate before seeking medical assistance. Remember, prevention is better than cure. We recommend having regular checkups with recognized dentists to maximize the chances of catching dental problems early, which, in turn, will allow our licensed periodontist to perform the treatment you need.
For gum care advice or additional information on our available gum disease treatments, call us at (855) 328-6646 or complete our online form here to schedule a consultation.
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