Periodontal Disease: The Main Signs Each Individual Should Recognize
Looking after your smile requires more work than only ensuring that your teeth are shiny and straight. The gums are a vital role in your oral wellbeing, along with your overall wellness. Since most patients may think their gums are in good condition, they are often startled when they are alerted something else. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a progressive condition that deteriorates the gums that surround the teeth, and its symptoms typically occur without discomfort. Numerous studies have discovered a connection with gum disease and different health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and some cancers, including tooth loss.
In spite of this, we have welcome news: Periodontal disease can be avoided with routine dental care. The most effective method to fight against periodontal disease is to receive dental care from capable dental practitioners, like the dentists at Parker West Dental Associates in Plano, TX. Our practitioners have expansive know-how and training in the field of periodontal dentistry to discover various issues and treat gum disease.
THE PRIMARY POINTS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND CONCERNING PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Also called gum disease, periodontal disease is an infection of the gumline. The gumline is the oral tissue that works to keep your teeth in their appropriate positions. Improper oral hygiene could lead a sticky bacteria known as plaque to attach itself to and solidify along the gum tissue. Although brushing and flossing might eliminate some of the buildup, plaque that's not removed will develop into tartar and sit onto your enamel. Only a thorough cleaning done by a dentist or dental assistant can completely get rid of tartar.
If collecting on the teeth, tartar and plaque operate alongside one another to bring about a moderate form of periodontal disease known as gingivitis. Gingivitis occurs as plaque gathers on the enamel and forces the nearby gum tissue to become red and puffy. Tartar produces toxins that aggravate the gums, which triggers them to be discolored and puffy and, usually, causing bleeding.
If periodontal disease worsens with no treatment, more severe levels of gum disease could lead to sensitive and bleeding tissues, issues with chewing, and even tooth loss. This is why it's critical to detect and address gum disease before the damage travels throughout your oral structures.
GUM DISEASE RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Strong gums should be secure, pinkish, and fit comfortably around your teeth. The first indicators of periodontal disease are usually difficult to recognize by a normal person. It is crucial to set up routine appointments with the dental team at Parker West Dental Associates in our Plano, TX office. Our staff is able to determine the early symptoms of gum disease during regular cleanings and dental examinations. Symptoms of inflamed gums include puffiness, redness, sensitivity, bleeding, separation from the tooth, excess spaces between your teeth, foul breath, loose teeth, uncomfortable biting, and changes in your alignment.
PEOPLE WITH PERIODONTAL DISEASE CAN RECEIVE MANY SURGICAL CARE OPTIONS
As individuals come to the more advanced phases of gum disease, they could require surgical treatments. The dentists at Parker West Dental Associates in Plano, TX can perform a variety of surgical gum treatments, in particular gum grafting, gingival flap surgery, and more.
Periodontal disease typically leads the gumline to deteriorate, which will expose part of the tooth's roots. To revive your gumline, our dentists may offer a gum grafting surgery. Most often, autografted connective tissue is used for this surgery. The grafted gum tissue is borrowed from the upper part of your mouth and placed with your gumline, which minimizes the root exposure.
Gum surgery may benefit individuals in Plano, TX who have advanced periodontitis. Depending on the phase of your periodontal disease, there is a selection of methods we could implement: gingival flap surgery, gingivectomy, and gingivoplasty. Gingival flap surgery shifts the gumline away from the teeth to show the roots and enable our dental practitioner to determine your situation. Following that, our dentist will carry out a scaling and root planing treatment to remove plaque and excess infected tissue. The separated gum tissue will then be readjusted and sutured in the correct place. Meanwhile, a gingivectomy removes and alters a portion of the significantly diseased tissue. This option is generally saved for those whose gum disease is more advanced. Lastly, a gingivoplasty is, at times, an aesthetic dental operation that enhances and repositions your gums when your gum disease has been addressed, returning their ideal function and looking more attractive.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN EVADE PERIODONTAL DISEASE BY IMPLEMENTING THESE SIMPLE PRACTICES
The best way to avoid gum disease is to discover a good, efficient oral care regimen. Following this simple checklist could help guarantee that your beautiful smile lasts a long time:
Flossing is crucial for your best oral wellness.
Flossing no less than once every day could help remove plaque that could be trapped between your teeth. Brushing your teeth is a necessary part of anyone’s oral wellness routine. However, it still cannot reach every area.
Individuals should clean their teeth no less than twice daily.
Those who clean their teeth after eating help to eradicate tartar and buildup packed in between their gums and teeth. It's also essential to not overlook the tongue. Utilize your soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub your tongue: Doing so could reduce excess bacteria.
Make use of toothpaste and mouth rinses with fluoride.
It can be difficult to learn which oral regimen products are the most beneficial. When browsing, pick a fluoride-based toothpaste and mouthwash. When utilized in tandem, the two oral products may impact the rate at which germs and plaque to build up on the enamel.
Make it a goal to visit your dental practitioner two times a year.
Set up one-on-ones with your dentist two times each year for a dental health assessment and cleaning. Oral checkups enable the staff at Parker West Dental Associates to discover problems like gingivitis when they first occur. To help those with dental anxieties, our Plano, TX office offers numerous sedation options to settle your nerves so you can have your checkups and cleanings without difficulty.
Give up tobacco use.
Adults who use tobacco products (such as chewing, smoking, or vaping) are more likely to contract gum disease and oral cancer. Tobacco usage is detrimental to the immune system, which makes it more difficult for your body to battle off bacteria and jump back afterward.
SHELTER YOUR GUM TISSUE FROM DAMAGE AND RECESSION
Exceptional dental intervention is needed for the battle against gum disease. Seek out a dental care provider you trust, and be sure to visit their facility two times a year for follow-ups and cleanings. At Parker West Dental Associates, our dentists are capable of preventing, detecting, and managing gum disease, including various other dental health issues. Call our Plano, TX office today to set up an appointment and begin your journey toward optimal oral health.