Gum Diseases

Gum (Periodontal) diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In bad cases, teeth can be lost. How well you care for your teeth and gums every day determines whether your gum disease is stopped, slowed, or gets worse.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Bacteria and mucus in your mouth constantly form a sticky, colorless "plaque" on teeth. help get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing regularly can harden and form "tartar" that brushing can't clean. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar. Plaque and tartar become harmful the longer they remain on the teeth.

Inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria is called "gingivitis" resulting in the gums become red, swollen and can bleed easily. With daily brushing and flossing, and regular cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist Gingivitis can usually be reversed.

If gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to gum disease resulting in the gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces around the tooth that could become infected. If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.

What are the Symptoms?

Gum disease develops when plaque is allowed to build up along and under the gum line and generally occurs more frequently in adulthood.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bad breath that is hard to treat.
• Red or swollen gums.
• Tender or bleeding gums.
• Painful chewing.
• Loose teeth.
• Sensitive teeth.
• Receding gums or longer appearing teeth.

These symptoms may be a sign of a serious problems which should be checked at your next dental appointment, we will:

• Check your medical history to identify underlying conditions or risk factors that may contribute to gum disease.
• Examine your gums and note any signs of inflammation.
• Check for and measure any pockets.

How is gum disease treated?

Depending on the extent of the gum disease, there maybe several types of treatments. The goal of treatment is to control the infection through professional deep-cleaning and scaling treatments along with good daily dental care at home. You can I keep your teeth and gums healthy by:

• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Floss regularly to remove plaque from between teeth.
• Visit the dentist routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning.
• Don’t smoke

Talk to Dr. Jeff Weaver if you have concerns around gum disease.