Learn About Gum Disease from Our Coral Springs Dentist.
Learn About Gum Disease from Our Coral Springs Dentist.
Gum disease? What’s the big deal? If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, this is something that you must take seriously. Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease or gingivitis, is a chronic inflammatory disease that will destroy bone and gum tissue which supports your teeth. So, what is the major cause of periodontal disease? Plaque! Plaque is the film of bacteria that clings onto your teeth and gums. If plaque is not removed by brushing and flossing, it becomes hard and that hardness is called tartar. If you are showing signs of gum disease, it is best that you schedule an appointment with your dentist in Coral Springs right away.
What Can Our Coral Springs Dentist Do for Periodontal Disease?
Basically, periodontal disease stems from when you are not brushing and flossing properly. It is also common when your diet is poor, or if you take medications that dry your mouth. When gum disease starts to happen, you can develop an infection below your gum line. When this happens, the gums will start to separate from your teeth and your tooth or teeth will become loose. If you do not see your Coral Springs dentist at the first sign of gum disease, it will progress and you can end up losing the teeth. Believe it or not, gingivitis increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack, lung disease, or a stroke. If you are pregnant and have untreated gum disease, this could lead to having a premature birth or low birth weight in your baby.
What are the signs and symptoms of gum disease? Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, however, the most common signs of periodontal disease are gums that feel tender, loose teeth, a bad taste in your mouth and bad breath. Some symptoms can be more severe such as pus in between your teeth or new spaces between the teeth, some people may also develop red or purple gums which bleed frequently. Although plaque is the number one reason that gum disease develops, there are several other contributing factors that cause it also. If you have other members of the family who suffer from gum disease, your chances are higher for also developing it. If you do not brush and floss properly, or if you smoke you are also more likely to develop it. Those with diabetes also have a much higher chance of having gum disease because when the blood sugar in the body is not regulated, infection, slow healing and loss of bone and connective tissue is more prevalent.
Once it has been determined by our Coral Springs dentist that you have gum disease, depending on the severity, we can help you to fight the disease and get you back on track with a healthy oral hygiene program. First, you will start off with a professional cleaning. Our experienced dental hygienists will complete a thorough cleaning, looking for plaque buildup and scrape it away. You may also have your teeth polished and be treated with fluoride. The hygienist will also look for periodontal pockets and perform a deep cleaning in these areas. The deep cleaning is called scaling and will need to be done to remove plaque from underneath the gum line. If an infection is detected, the dentist may prescribe you antibiotics to get rid of the infection. These antibiotics may be in the form of a pill, gel, or mouthwash. Now, if the plaque is very bad, or if inflammation continues once a deep cleaning has occurred, you may need to have a surgery where the gums are lifted and the roots of the teeth are cleaned. If the gum disease has spread to the bone, a bone grafting procedure may be done to restore the bone loss.
To prevent gum disease or the re-occurrence of it, maintaining a healthy oral hygiene regimen is a must. This regimen will help to also prevent cavities, enamel wear, and other potential issues from occurring. First, make sure that you see your dentist regularly. Regularly means at least two times a year for cleanings and checkups. During checkups, you will be examined for further gingivitis and if noted, it can be taken care of immediately. Next, daily home habits need to be focused on. Are you brushing and flossing two times a day at least? Our hygienist can teach you proper brushing and flossing techniques you are unsure if you are performing them properly. Properly brushing your teeth means also brushing your tongue and using a toothpaste with fluoride. Flossing will get in between the teeth in areas that the toothbrush cannot reach. This will also get out any food particles that are stuck. Now, how is your diet? It needs to be balanced with healthy fruits and vegetables. Try to stay away from carbohydrates, sugary foods, and foods high in acid. Even though fruits and vegetables are important for a healthy diet. They can also harm your teeth. After eating acidic foods such as oranges or tomatoes if you can’t brush, then rinse your mouth with water. Remember to take your vitamins daily. Vitamins add the nutrients to your body that you need. Vitamins with calcium are recommended for strong bones.
Find Your New Coral Springs Dentist.
At Barbag dental in Coral Springs, we care about you! We want to do all that we can to get you on track with a great oral health schedule and to also prevent you from having other teeth problems. Our team is here for you to help you prevent gingivitis. We also offer other dental services such as cosmetic dentistry, restorations, orthodontics, oral surgery, and laser dentistry. If you are looking for a new dentist, give us a call to set an appointment.
