Gum Care is Important for Overall Health
Awareness months are a great way to educate people about important issues. That’s why every September is Gum Care Awareness Month. Taking good care of your gums is an important part of establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While you may not think a lot about your gums, ignoring gum care can lead to gum disease or periodontal disease. This potentially serious disease is the main reason why many adults over 35 in the United States suffer from tooth loss. It is also linked to serious health conditions like stroke and heart disease.
How Do I Take Proper Care of My Gums in Northern Virginia?
You may be wondering what you need to do to ensure that your gums are well taken care of. The only tools you will require are a toothbrush, dental floss and a local dentist. Brushing the teeth once daily, flossing once daily and visiting a dentist in Northern Virginia for cleanings and checkups are the best ways to ensure that your gums remain healthy.
If you are showing signs of gum disease, you should contact our office promptly to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists for a checkup and cleaning.
What Are the Signs of Gum Disease That I Need to Look Out For?
No matter how well you take care of your oral health, things still happen. Knowing what the signs of gum disease are will help you to get your problem treated early on, when the disease is easiest to treat. Common signs of having gum disease are:
- Swollen, red, or sensitive gums
- Bad breath, a funny taste in your mouth
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
- Gums that are pulling away from the base of your teeth
- Loose teeth or unusual gaps between the teeth
- Visible pus or infection between your teeth and gums
- Pockets of infection or irritation at the base of your gums
What Do I Do if I Think I Have Gum Disease?
Once you suspect that you have gum disease, you will need to make an appointment with your dentist in Northern Virginia so that he or she can properly diagnose you. Once a diagnosis has been made, your dentist will develop a treatment plan. This treatment plan will include things that you can do at home to reverse any damage caused to your mouth, as well as things that you can do as a part of your at-home dental care routine that will prevent it from occurring again. Remember, your dentist in one of the most important parts of your battle against gum disease.
If you are showing signs of gum disease, you should contact our office promptly to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists for a checkup and cleaning.
Can You Tell Me What the Different Stages of Gum Disease Are?
Since gum disease is a progressive disease, it’s easier to treat it when it is caught in its earliest stages. The later you wait to receive treatment, the further along the disease will get. The further along the disease gets, the more likely it is that any treatment method utilized to treat it will be both more invasive and more expensive. Here are the three stages of gum disease:
Stage One: Gingivitis
Allowing plaque to build up on the teeth leads to the formation of a hard substance called tartar. This substance causes the gums to become irritated and it is the first stage of gum disease. This stage of gum disease is also known as gingivitis. The majority of patients with gingivitis don’t realize they have it. The most common symptom is having gums that bleed whenever you brush or floss. Gingivitis is treatable and reversible. Your dentist will likely want to treat you with a professional cleaning. He or she will also give you at-home recommendations for what you can do to prevent built-up plaque from coming back.
Stage Two: Periodontitis
As tartar continues to build up on the teeth, it leads to the formation of pockets within the gums. Food particles and plaque get stuck inside of these pockets, which causes bacteria to build up. This is what happens during the second stage of gum disease, which is called periodontitis. This serious form of gum disease will eventually damage the bones and tissues in the mouth. It can be treated by root planing, professional scaling and antibiotics.
Stage Three: Advanced Periodontitis
Failing to treat gingivitis and periodontitis will lead to advanced periodontitis. At this stage of the disease, the bones and tissues surrounding the teeth are destroyed. This causes teeth to shift and become loose. In addition to this, it can cause you to lose your teeth. Treating advanced periodontitis requires oral surgery to repair the gum tissues and the teeth. You will also probably need to undergo restoration work to replace any teeth that you may have lost due to gum disease.
Taking Great Care of Your Gums is Important in Northern Virginia
As you can see, if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you need to take good care of your gums. This is because gum disease can negatively impact both your dental and physical health. Studies conducted in recent years have shown that there is a close link between gum disease and serious health conditions like:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
To keep your teeth, mouth and gums healthy, you need to be committed to preventing gum disease from occurring. Be sure that you follow a consistent at-home dental care routine. You should also be visiting your dentist in Northern Virginia consistently so that he or she can give you a checkup and professional cleaning.
If you are showing signs of gum disease, you should contact our office promptly to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists for a checkup and cleaning.
