Everyone knows that brushing and flossing, along with eating well and not smoking, are key to good dental health. However, gum disease symptoms can develop when you don’t do these things, which can lead to serious complications. Gum disease can be painful and very uncomfortable, but it is also preventable. At Wambaugh Dental, we can help treat your gum disease. If you are worried about having the symptoms of gum disease, contact Wambaugh Dental at 281.501.7849.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
You might be wondering what exactly gum disease involves. Gum disease is an infection that damages the soft tissue of your gums. If left untreated, this condition can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Unfortunately, this can lead to tooth loss, so that’s why it’s essential to know the signs of gum disease, such as:
- Swollen, puffy gums
- Tender gums
- Gums that bleed when you brush them or bleed easily in general
- Bad breath
- Receding gums, or gums that pull away from your teeth
- Chewing that is painful
These are just a few of the symptoms of gum disease. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is essential that you contact your dentist as soon as possible for treatment.
What Are the Causes of Gum Disease?
Gum disease is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. That means that you weren’t brushing or flossing your teeth regularly. When you don’t have good oral hygiene, plaque can build up on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film made up of bacteria. The plaque that builds up on your teeth can harden into tartar, which is harder to remove with a toothbrush and is also full of bacteria. If you don’t remove the tartar, gingivitis can occur, which is the mildest version of gum disease. If that’s left untreated, full-blown gum disease, or periodontitis, develops.
Some risk factors that increase your chance of developing gum disease include the following:
- Poor oral hygiene, like not brushing or flossing enough
- Using tobacco, whether smoking or chewing it
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Some medications that cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of gum disease
Remember, if you have any risk factors for gum disease, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist. It’s important to catch gum disease early before it worsens and you start losing teeth.
What Does Gum Disease Treatment Involve?
Gum disease treatment involves first checking your medical history. This way, your dentist will be able to see if you have any risk factors that are contributing to your gum disease. Then, the dentist will examine your mouth to look for common symptoms, like bleeding or receding gums. After that, they will measure the groove’s pocket depth between the gums and the teeth by using a dental probe. If the pocket depth is deeper than 4 millimeters, you might have gum disease. Your dentist may also take x-rays in order to determine the extent of your gum damage.
There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for gum disease, such as:
- Scaling
- Root planing
- Antibiotics
- Flap or pocket reduction surgery
- Soft tissue grafts
- Bone grafting
Of course, this can all be prevented by taking care of your teeth, so be sure to brush and floss regularly and see your dentist at least once a year.
For Help With Gum Disease, Call Wambaugh Dental Today
If you think you may be suffering from gum disease, don’t wait. Contact Wambaugh Dental. We are an experienced team of dentists and dental assistants who are ready to help diagnose and treat gum disease. You don’t have to suffer from gum pain any longer. Call us today at 281.501.7849, or contact us online to get quality gum disease treatment.
