Gum Care is Important for Overall Health
Each September is known as Gum Care Awareness Month. While you may not think that gum care is an exciting topic or that it needs to have a whole month of awareness dedicated to it, it is actually an important part of your dental and overall physical health. That’s because ignoring your gums can cause gum disease or periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the main cause of tooth loss in people over the age of 35 in the United States. Gum disease also has the potential of causing serious complications with your physical health such as stroke and heart disease.
How Can I Take Proper Care of My Gums in Florida?
It’s actually pretty simple to take care of your gums. All you need is a toothbrush, dental floss and a dentist in Florida who you can see on a regular basis. The best way to keep gum disease away is to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and see your dentist consistently for cleanings and checkups. Performing those three tasks will help you to keep your teeth, mouth, and gums happy and healthy for a lifetime.
If you believe that you have gum disease, you need to seek out treatment as soon as possible. Contact us to schedule a checkup and cleaning with one of our dentists!
What Symptoms Do I Need to Look Out For?
No matter how well you follow your basic dental care routine, it’s still possible to develop gum disease. This means it’s important to know what the symptoms of the disease are. Finding gum disease in its earliest stages makes it easier to treat the condition. In addition to this, the earlier you catch the disease, the more likely you are to be able to reverse any damage caused by gum disease. The symptoms of gum disease include:
- Swollen, red, or sensitive gums
- Bad breath or a funny taste in your mouth
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
- Gums that are pulling away from the base of your teeth
- Loose teeth or unusual gaps between the teeth
- Visible pus or infection between your teeth and gums
- Pockets of infection or irritation at the base of your gums
What Should I Do if I Think I Have Gum Disease?
The first thing you should do if you are showing symptoms of gum disease is to contact your dentist in Florida to schedule an appointment. At your appointment, your dentist will examine your mouth and determine what stage of gum disease you have. Your dentist will be able to recommend ways that you can reverse the negative effects of gum disease, as well as provide you with the type of treatment you need to properly take care of your gums. Your dentist is an essential tool in your fight against gum disease.
If you believe that you have gum disease, you need to seek out treatment as soon as possible. Contact us to schedule a checkup and cleaning with one of our dentists!
Can You Provide Me with Information on the Different Stages of Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a progressive disease. The earlier it is caught, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful and that the damage caused by the disease will be able to be reversed. The three stages of gum disease are listed below.
Stage One: Gingivitis
When you allow plaque to build up on the teeth it will eventually harden into a substance called tartar. This tartar irritates the gums and causes the earliest form of gum disease, which is also known as gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, you probably don’t feel any pain. However, you may have noticed some light bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth. Luckily, gingivitis is able to be completely cured and reversed. This stage of gum disease is usually treated with a professional cleaning in addition to detailed at-home care instructions that will allow you to prevent plaque from building up again.
Stage Two: Periodontitis
If you allow tartar to continue building up on the teeth, it will cause pockets to form within your gums. These pockets allow food particles and plaque to become stuck in the gums, which then leads to bacteria forming within the gums. This causes the second stage of gum disease, which is also known as periodontitis. This infection will cause damage to the bones and tissues inside of your mouth. This serious form of gum disease can be treated via root planing, antibiotics and professional scaling.
Stage Three: Advanced Periodontitis
Allowing gum disease to continue on unchecked will eventually lead to the development of advanced periodontitis. This form of the disease destroys the bones and tissues surrounding your teeth, which in turn leads to teeth shifting, becoming loose and even falling out. The treatment methods for advanced periodontitis are more invasive than treatments at earlier stages. They consist of oral surgery to repair damage done to the teeth and gums, as well as extensive restoration work on any remaining teeth.
Taking Excellent Care of Your Gums is Important in Florida
The health of your gums is an important part of your overall health. Not having gum disease treated promptly can cause serious issues with your dental and physical health. Recent studies show that gum disease can be linked to serious health problems like:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
Prevention is the best way of ensuring that your teeth and gums stay healthy. Establish an excellent daily care routine at home and be sure to visit your dentist in Florida regularly so that he or she can perform cleanings and checkups.
If you believe that you have gum disease, you need to seek out treatment as soon as possible. Contact us to schedule a checkup and cleaning with one of our dentists!
