A Dental Practice Answers Your Questions About Gum Disease

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a common cause of lost teeth in many adults. It is usually not hard to prevent it with the right oral hygiene. Seeing the dental practice is often critical in preventing the condition. Gum disease happens below the gumline because of plaque accumulation. There can be pockets in the area, which cause the gums and teeth to separate. It might cause the teeth to become loose and then fall out.

What is the treatment for gum disease?

Depending on the stage, the dental practice might recommend one of several treatments. That could include scaling and root planing. The process is one of the more common ways of treating the severe or even early stages of the condition. During scaling, the dental practice uses tools to remove plaque and calculus from the teeth.

That targets the place below the gumline. If a patient needs root planing, the dentist will remove the dentin from the teeth, which might have toxins. That smooths out the patient’s roots and allows the area to heal. It prevents bacteria from growing there later on.

Will gum disease ever go away?

Gum disease is reversible, but that is only true in the earlier stages. Patients can benefit from restored gum health once the plaque goes away. Still, it requires regular flossing and brushing on the patient’s part to keep it away. Once the disease is in its later stages, it is not entirely reversible. Still, the dentist can manage it using the right processes.

Is there a difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?

Gingivitis refers to the earlier stages of the condition. It often comes before periodontitis. That is the more advanced stage of the disease. Gingivitis is treatable by going to a dental practice regularly. Flossing and brushing also play a significant role. Periodontitis might cause bone and tooth loss.

Does gum disease impact the overall health as well?

A sign of gum disease is swelling and inflammation. When there is inflammation in the body, such as in the mouth, it might cause the arteries to harden. It means the gum disease could increase the patient’s risk of a heart attack. There are blood vessels in the gums, and the bacteria could enter the bloodstream. That means the inflammation could spread to other parts of the body.

Visit a dental practice today to prevent gum disease

Visiting a dental practice is the first step in preventing the spread of gum disease. If the dentist notices the condition, it is easy to create a treatment plan. It begins with regular dental exams to find the issue early on. That way, it will be easier for the dentist to manage. Making an appointment today is the first step.