Many of us
have been told from a young age to brush and floss every day, or else bad
things would happen. What exactly are those bad things? Sure, bad breath and
the ability for others to see what you had for dinner last week are
side-effects desired by no one; however the real consequences can be much
worse. Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease are two diagnoses that no one wants
to hear. There are several ways to educate yourself in order to prevent these
two nasty gum problems from being a part of your future.
First, let’s
talk about gingivitis. This is caused by plaque buildup on the teeth, causing
your gums to inflame or swell. Gingivitis
does not always cause pain and the early stages may go may go
unnoticed. Therefore, if you
are not actively trying to prevent or keep watch on it, you could all of a
sudden go from a mild form of gum disease to something much worse:
periodontitis.
What conditions does periodontitis create?
Gingivitis is a
treatable oral health condition when caught in time. Periodontitis is irreversible
and requires more complex dental plan. There are various symptoms ofperiodontitis, with some of the more severe signs being bleeding gums, loose
teeth, or continuous bad breath (halitosis). Untreated bacteria and infection will
continuously grow and work its way down into the gum affecting tooth roots and
jaw bone health. When the supporting tissue weakens, teeth are adversely
affected. Eventually, the tooth will give way and require extraction while the
disease moves along the soft tissue to adjacent teeth. It is imperative to see
a dentist before major damage begins.
Prevention Methods
Gingivitis
can be prevented by brushing
and flossing on a regular basis and visiting your dentist twice a year for
routine cleanings and exams. The routine exams help to eliminate tartar
build-up along the gum line. If gingivitis is present, antibiotics may be
prescribed along with a follow up visit and at-home dental care directions. Periodontitis,
unfortunately, cannot
be treated by antibiotics
alone. Once that stage is reached, more heavy-duty procedures are going to be
needed, such as scaling, root planing, or even bone grafting, depending on the
severity of the disease.
The good news is
that you can control whether plaque and
tartar builds up on your teeth. Gingivitis can be prevented and stopped by you,
therefore never allowing periodontitis to wreak havoc in your mouth. If you
think you have any signs or symptoms or realize that you haven’t had a routine
cleaning more than six months ago, contact Erbe Palafox, DDS today and schedule
an exam. Dr. Palafox is dedicated to preventative dental treatment for a more
complete oral health care system.
