Although there are often no painful symptoms of gum disease in the early stages, it is crucial to treat gum disease as soon as it is detected. Otherwise, the disease could worsen or lead to more severe oral health concerns that require extensive treatment to address properly.
Understanding the dangers of gum disease can provide the extra motivation to help you keep your oral health where it needs to be through good oral hygiene. If left untreated for an extended amount of time, gum disease results in noticeable risks, including gum recession, bone loss in the jaw, teeth sensitivity, tooth infections, loose teeth, and teeth loss.
Gum recession occurs when the gums start to recede away from the tooth’s crown. This is a more serious symptom of gum disease. However, gum recession progresses over time, so it can be hard to detect without regular dental visits. Minor gum recession may not cause many concerns initially, but gum recession that gets progressively worse can expose the tooth root and increase the risk of oral infection and tooth loss.
Gum disease affects not only the gums but the underlying jawbone as well. The jawbone holds the teeth roots into place, so any jawbone loss puts teeth in jeopardy of becoming lost. Bone loss often happens due to progressive gum disease (periodontitis). This not only makes it more likely that teeth loss occurs, but it also complicates the dental implant process, as patients are more likely to require a bone graft procedure before implant placement.
Gum disease can further expose teeth roots. This makes the patient more vulnerable to a tooth infection and the need for root canal therapy to avoid severe discomfort and tooth loss. This is particularly a risk for patients with tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, other symptoms of gum disease, such as recession and deep gum pockets, increase this risk.
When deep gum pockets form, it can risk the long-term health of surrounding teeth. Therefore, the depth of the gum pockets is one of the first things a dentist checks for when assessing the patient’s periodontal health.
Without proper treatment, teeth loss can eventually result from gum disease. This can happen decades after the symptoms of gum disease are first noticed or much sooner. Teeth may first become loose or infected before eventually falling out, largely due to gum disease, leading to the need for teeth replacement via implants or traditional dentures.
Ideally, patients can avoid gum disease altogether through a prevention strategy. However, if gum disease has already started to develop, there is still time to take action. Here are several tips for maintaining healthy gums and reducing the risk of gum disease.
The dentist plays an important role in gum disease prevention. Of course, the majority of preventive measures take place at home, but plaque and tartar can still accumulate and damage gums over time without dental cleanings. For this reason and more, regular dentist visits for a cleaning procedure are strongly encouraged.
It is also important to brush the gums thoroughly every time you brush your teeth. However, vigorously brushing the gums can contribute to gum erosion over time. Therefore, while brushing the gums often is important to remove plaque and tartar, be sure not to brush gently so as not to irritate them or cause damage.
Patients may be familiar with all that contributes to gum disease, including but not limited to sugar-filled foods and drinks, acidic fruits, tobacco, and alcohol. We encourage all to be mindful of how consumption affects their periodontal health and take precautions if and when they consume something that may be bad for gum health. For instance, drink water afterward to wash away the bacteria and sugar when drinking a sugar-filled beverage.
Gum disease prevention should include routine check-up visits, which allow your dentist to detect signs of gum disease early and help you put together a treatment and prevention plan. If it has been more than six months since your last dentist visit or you experience symptoms of gum disease, then schedule a visit with our team today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.allstardental.net or call Allstar Dental at (714) 462-4437 for an appointment in our Garden Grove office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gum Disease in Garden Grove, CA.
Are you wondering whether you can do anything to prevent gum disease? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gum disease affects over half of all Americans over the age of 30.Early stages of gum disease, such as gingivitis, may be treated with a dental cleaning every six months and good oral…
Gum disease, also commonly referred to as periodontal disease, is an inflammation of the gums. It is caused by plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that often forms on teeth. Gum disease usually causes tooth loss. It is often painless, so you may not even know you have it. Fortunately, gum disease…
Flossing is an oral hygiene basic that everyone should know. Dentists recommend flossing at least once a day to keep the teeth healthy.However, if it has been a while since you learned how to floss, you may need a refresher course. Here is a breakdown of recommended flossing techniques to help you maintain your beautiful…
Keeping up with oral hygiene basics can prevent cavities and other issues with your teeth. Proper daily care can also stop discoloration of the teeth and reduce bad breath. Here are some dental habits that people can benefit from including as part of a daily routine.One of the most important parts of oral hygiene is…