What does it mean when your gums bleed, or feel sore or recede? These could be common warning signs of gum disease, and lack of attention could mean the risk of tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Rochester, MN, dentist talks about the warning signs of the disease, and when to see us for treatment.
Recognizing the Disease
As we touched on above, you may notice changes to your gums and when this happens, you should let us know right away. You could notice they appear redder than usual, or feel sore when you brush and floss. Bleeding could occur, and they could recede as well, which makes your teeth appear longer. When these changes happen, schedule an appointment with us for an exam. Our team will conduct a thorough diagnosis with digital imaging technology, so we can assess the cause and extent of your periodontal concerns. We then create a treatment plan to manage your periodontal disease.
Causes and Complications
The disease starts as gingivitis, or inflammation. Your gums could become inflamed due to improper brushing and flossing, a diet high in sugar and starch, tobacco use, and infrequent dental cleanings. These allow plaque and tartar buildup to accumulate, which irritates the gums. As they become inflamed and pull away from the teeth, disease-causing bacteria could enter the pockets to cause periodontal disease. Without treatment, the disease will reach the periodontitis stage, which causes not only worsening symptoms, but adult tooth loss too. Your receding gums also expose sensitive portions of root structure, leading to tooth decay and harmful infections too. You need care to keep the issue in check, so you avoid complications.
Managing the Disease
For gingivitis and the early stages of periodontal disease, we could use a deep cleaning to remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth and the roots. Depending on the severity of your buildup this could take one visit or up to four. Afterward, we will polish your smile and moving forward, we can help manage it with traditional cleanings every three to four months. For more severe cases, we could employ laser dentistry or remove diseased tissues and help healthy ones adhere to the teeth. If you have any questions about how to recognize periodontal disease, and how we can manage the issue to keep your smile whole, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO YOUR ROCHESTER, MN DENTIST ABOUT SAFEGUARDING YOUR SMILE
We would love to help you keep a whole and beautiful smile for years to come! If you would like to find out more about treating poor oral health, or if you wish to book an appointment at our location, call Greenview Cosmetic And Family Dentistry in Rochester, MN at (507) 281-3659.
