Gum disease is one of the leading health challenge in the country. It’s also one of the easiest oral health challenges to treat and prevent. Simple, small changes to your diet, lifestyle and oral health regimen can make a drastic difference to how much or how often you suffer from gum disease.
Gum disease is caused by plaque produced by the bacteria in your mouth. As you eat, food gets caught in your teeth. A byproduct of this process is a thin film of bacteria that turns into plaque. It is this plaque that causes gum disease. That bacteria in your mouth also creates acid as a byproduct. That acid eats away at tooth enamel.
This combined attack breaks down the surface of the tooth to cause tooth decay. The bacteria in the plaque also irritate gums, causing them to become inflamed and sore. This is the first stage of gum disease.
Fortunately, at this stage, gum disease is easily treatable. A simple clean by your dentist will see remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth. Any further infection can be quickly addressed with drugs or further treatment. If tackled in a timely manner, there are no long-term effects of gum disease.
If left untreated, gum disease can evolve into gingivitis. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. The gum will swell and become red around the teeth. They may bleed when you brush them and become painful. This infection may also result in bad breath.
Again, treatment for gingivitis is simple and the condition may not have any long-lasting effects.
If gingivitis isn’t treated, the condition will evolve into periodontal disease, which is more serious. There are several types of periodontal disease but they all affect the tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This can result in bone loss, loose teeth and receding gums. You may lose teeth if periodontal disease is left untreated.
The treatment for periodontal disease is also quite straightforward. However, it cannot be completely cured, it is just controlled. Treatment options depend on how you respond to deep cleaning, your age, health and lifestyle. It’s something we would discuss with you at your consultation.
Here at Aesthetic Family Dentistry, we tailor all our treatments to you as an individual. We firmly believe that the most effective way to address dental issues is to prescribe a personalized treatment plan based around your particular needs. If this sounds like something you could benefit from, contact us today for a consultation.
