How can I stop gum disease?

If you are asking yourself, “How can I stop gum disease?” a good way to start is to understand the conditions of gum disease. The two basic types of gum diseases or periodontal diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis.

Phases of gum disease

Gingivitis is the first phase of gum disease. It results when plaque forms on the teethes surface and the gum line. When plaque builds up, the bacteria that compose it cause inflammation in the gums. A person with gingivitis has red and puffy gums that bleed easily. Gingivitis develops into periodontitis overtime. At this phase, bacterial infection damages the bones that support teeth and the connecting gum tissue resulting in pockets where more bacteria can flourish. This condition ultimately leads to tooth loss.

How can I stop gum disease?

Detecting and treating the problem while it has just started is the best way to stop gum disease. Pay attention to your gum’s health. Healthy gums should be pink, firm, odorless and should not bleed with normal brushing. If the condition of your gums is the opposite, you likely have gum disease. Make sure to see your dentist regularly. Most people are not aware they have gum disease until their dentist points the problem out to them.

How can I stop gum disease through clinical treatment?

Your dentist may perform several cleaning procedures in your mouth. Root planing or scaling are ways to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar in your teeth and gums. Your dentist may also place antimicrobial liquid solutions beneath your gum line with a procedure called periodontal irrigation to wash out any remaining bacteria in the infected gums.

Severe gum diseases may require periodontal surgery, which removes the infected gum to expose and strip off bacteria. In case of critical bone loss, the dentist will perform a bone graft. To complete the surgery, the dentist will cover the treated area with a new gum line with a skin graft.

How can I stop gum disease naturally?

A diet filled with nutrients, especially Vitamin C, will boost your body’s ability to combat bacterial infection. There are also natural home remedies to prevent and cure gum disease such as rinsing with chamomile to lessen inflammation and peppermint tea to fight bad breath. Natural dental products such as toothpastes made with tea tree oil helps prevent gum disease in a gentle yet effective way.

Call your South Tampa, FL Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Marnie Bauer, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273

Gingivitis And Periodontal Disease

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is a serious condition that will normally result in tooth loss. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are the most common forms of gum disease in adults. One way to prevent both types of gum disease is to brush your teeth daily and remove as much plaque as possible. If you allow the plaque to build up, it may result in gum disease.

Gingivitis is known as inflammation in the tissues of the gums. If plaque and tartar build up along the gum line, the gums will eventually get swollen and irritated. Over time, the gums will get very tender and start to appear puffy. When you brush your teeth, you will may notice that your gums become very sore and they start to bleed with little to no pressure. If you notice blood when brushing, chances are you have gingivitis.

During this stage of gingivitis, there is no loss of bone structure. You can help to prevent gingivitis by flossing and brushing daily. If you have gingivitis and you don’t seek treatment, it could lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a condition in which the bone and surrounding structures are destroyed. Even though this form of mouth disease cannot be reversed, you can put a stop to it’s progression by going to your dentist on a regular basis and brushing your teeth daily.

If you don’t stop the progression of periodontal disease, the condition will continue to get worse. During the early stages of the disease, you will notice that your gums appear to be bright red, and very sore. This is due to plaque build up below the gum line. When left untreated, the plaque and tartar that below the gums will continue to eat at the teeth.

Plaque doesn’t need to be visible or detected in order for periodontal disease to be diagnosed. In order to determine if you have periodontal disease, you will need to have your dentist examine you. Your dentist can perform tests on your gums and your teeth, to determine if you have it. If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist can tell you how to stop the progression and prevent it from getting worse.

Both periodontal disease and gingivitis are not painful and both tend to progress in a slowly. You may not even be aware that you have either. The symptoms and signs will start to show in the later stages. Once the later stages start to progress you may end up losing the tooth.

You should always go to the dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning and practice good oral hygiene. If you catch gum disease in time time, your dentist will be able to help you treat the earlier stages.

Call your South Tampa Dentist, Marnie Bauer DMD, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273