The health of your gums is essential to your overall health. Avoiding gum infection can mean preventing a host of other serious health conditions, not to mention saving your healthy smile.
Read our patient-friendly guide on gum disease to learn about its effects and how we can effectively treat and prevent it.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is the common term for periodontal disease, which is an oral infection that starts in your gum tissue. It appears in stages that worsen the longer they go without treatment.
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on the teeth. As plaque builds up, it fosters bacteria that attack the gum tissue and infect hard-to-reach areas under the gums.
There are three distinct stages of gum disease, and your treatment will vary depending on the severity of your infection.
Stage One – Gingivitis
This stage of gum disease occurs when the plaque built up on your teeth and gums hardens to form a substance called tartar. Tartar is more difficult to remove and often requires professional treatment in a dental office. Signs of gingivitis include red, swollen gums, and bleeding during flossing or brushing.
Generally, gingivitis is easily treatable, and you can prevent the infection from returning by implementing a diligent oral hygiene routine.
Stage Two – Periodontitis
This stage is the progressed result of untreated gingivitis. The infection will cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, forming small pockets in your gums that trap bacteria. Unfortunately, at this point, your gums have suffered irreversible damage and cannot be so easily treated.
Periodontitis treatment will require more serious procedures like scaling and root planning to repair the damage. Dr. El-Hawary and our expert team will examine the extent of your infection first to determine the best treatment strategy for you.
Stage Three – Advanced Periodontitis
This is the final stage of gum disease. Without professional dental treatment, your gums will rot as the pockets become more infected with plaque and bacteria, leading to the eventual loss of your teeth.
Advanced stages of gum disease also pose other significant health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and pre-term births for pregnant women.
Risk Factors of Gum Disease
There are several different types of factors that can increase your likelihood of developing gum disease, including:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Medication that dries the mouth
- Immuno-compromising health conditions (AIDS, cancer, etc.)
- Family history of gum disease
- Nutritional deficiencies like vitamin C
If you suffer from any of the above, you can contact our office at (613) 406-6464 to schedule an appointment or talk to a team member about how you can prevent the development of gum disease.
Preventing Gum Disease
Ensuring the long-term health of your teeth and gums requires a proactive approach. Your strategy should start at home with regular brushing and flossing using the appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste as recommended by your dentist. By making a habit of caring for your mouth and watching out for the warning signs of gum disease, you’ll significantly reduce your chances of developing a harmful infection.
While personal hygiene practices play a crucial role, individual efforts are not typically sufficient on their own to guarantee healthy teeth and gums. For example, when plaque forms into tartar, the specialized tools and training of a professional are required to remove it. By scheduling a routine cleaning with our team at Dow’s Lake Dental Clinic every 3 to six months, you can prevent complications from plaque buildups like cavities and gum disease.
Common Questions About Gum Disease Treatments
Our goal is to help you maintain a healthy mouth, free of decay or disease. During your visit, our dentists will use a number of hygiene treatments to remove plaque buildup, tartar, and stains from your teeth. We use the latest materials and advanced treatment methods to make your teeth look and feel much better than before.
If we detect any signs of gum disease or periodontal ailments, we’ll recommend treatment to minimize the damage swiftly. In some cases, we may recommend gum surgery to reverse the effects of gum disease and return your mouth to a healthy condition.
Periodontal disease will not go away on its own. Once your gum line begins receding, it cannot grow back, and without professional dental assistance, the plaque buildup under the gums is impossible to clean. Fortunately, we have the tools and ability to treat the infection effectively and painlessly.
Healthy, well-maintained gums will look firm and pink. Once gum disease begins to occur, you’ll notice they are redder and swollen. In addition, you may notice some bleeding during brushing and flossing, as well as the gums pulling slightly away from the teeth.
At Dow’s Lake Dental, we’ll identify any signs of gum disease and will start treatment right away to halt the development of worsening symptoms.
Schedule an Appointment for Effective Gum Care
Whether you’re concerned about the possibility of gum disease or suffering from advanced periodontitis, our experienced staff will be able to treat you. Gum disease can be a serious health condition that affects more than just your smile. To schedule a consultation at our Ottawa office, simply call us at (613) 406-6464 or contact us online.
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