Periodontal Disease: The Major Facts Each Adult Should Know

Looking after your smile involves more work than only making sure your teeth are bright and well-aligned. Your gums take on an important role in your dental wellness, as well as your general health. Because the majority of local residents might think their gums are in good condition, they are usually alarmed when they are told bad news. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a progressive condition that affects the gums that surround a patient’s teeth. The disease’s signs often occur without discomfort. Several studies have discovered an association with periodontal disease and seemingly unrelated health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and forms of cancer, including tooth loss.

However, there is great news: Gum disease can be prevented with proper oral care. The most important way to fight against periodontal disease is to get oral care from talented dental practitioners, like the dentists at DentalWorks – Dublin. Our doctors have many years’ worth of knowledge and skills in the field of periodontal dentistry to identify a number of conditions and treat gum disease.

THE BASIC FACTS YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND ON THE SUBJECT OF GUM DISEASE

Also called gum disease, gum disease is essentially an infection in the gumline. The gumline is the oral tissue that works to retain your teeth in their appropriate placements. Improper oral health might lead a colorless bacteria known as plaque to collect and harden along the gum tissue. Although brushing and flossing could remove a portion of the buildup, plaque that’s not eliminated will turn into tartar and set onto your enamel. Only an in-depth cleaning done by a dental practitioner or dental professional can totally eliminate tartar.

While left on the enamel, tartar and plaque operate in tandem to bring about the first form of gum disease that we call gingivitis. Gingivitis develops when plaque builds up on the enamel and prompts the surrounding gumline to become inflamed. Plaque creates toxins that negatively affect your gum tissues, which makes them sensitive and puffy and, generally, causing bleeding.

When periodontal disease worsens with no treatment, more damaging levels of periodontal disease might lead to sore and bleeding gums, difficulty chewing, and, potentially, missing teeth. This is why it’s vital to detect and treat gum disease before it travels throughout your oral structures.

GUM DISEASE RED FLAGS TO KNOW

Healthy gums are stable, pinkish, and fit comfortably around your teeth. The first symptoms of periodontal disease are often difficult to identify by a normal individual. It is critical to arrange routine consultations with the dental professionals at DentalWorks – Dublin. Our staff are able to determine the initial symptoms of gum disease during routine teeth cleanings and dental examinations. Signs of unhealthy gums include puffiness, discoloration, sensitivity, bleeding, detachment from the tooth, unneeded spaces between your teeth, halitosis, loose teeth, problems biting, and differences with your dental alignment.

PATIENTS WITH PERIODONTAL DISEASE HAVE ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF ADVANCED CARE SOLUTIONS

As individuals come to the later stages of gum disease, they may need surgical procedures. Our dental practitioners in Dublin, OH provide several advanced gum therapies, such as gum grafting, gingival flap surgery, and others.

Periodontal disease often leads the gumline to regress, which will reveal a portion of the roots of the teeth. To improve your gum tissue, our doctors may provide a gum graft procedure. In many cases, self-donated connective tissue is used to carry out this service. The donor gum tissue is extracted from the roof of your mouth and sutured to your gums, which will address the root exposure.

Periodontal surgery may help patients in Dublin, OH with late-stage periodontitis. Depending on the extent of your periodontal disease, there are three techniques we will likely implement: gingival flap surgery, gingivectomy, and gingivoplasty. Gingival flap surgery moves the gum tissue away from the enamel to gain access to the roots and permit our dental practitioner to determine your situation. From there, we will do a deep cleaning to clear out plaque and excess damaged tissue. The dislocated gum tissue will then be readjusted and sutured in the correct location. In contrast, a gingivectomy removes and remolds a portion of the significantly diseased tissue. This procedure is typically saved for those whose condition is more advanced. Finally, a gingivoplasty is considered a cosmetic dental treatment that enhances and reshapes your gums once your gum disease has been dealt with, returning their ideal function and appearing more natural.

UNCOVER HOW YOU COULD AVOID PERIODONTAL DISEASE WITH THESE FIVE STEPS

The most proper way to evade periodontal disease is to develop a good, consistent oral hygiene routine. Obeying this simple checklist can help guarantee that your beautiful smile lasts a long time:

Flossing your pearly whites is crucial for your best dental wellness.
Flossing a minimum of once daily or nightly might help eliminate harmful bacteria that might be lodged between your teeth. Toothbrushing is a needed part of an individual’s oral health routine. However, this still won’t reach every area.

Patients should brush their teeth no less than two times a day.
Patients who clean their teeth after meals help to remove tartar and bacteria trapped in between their gums and teeth. It’s equally critical to not overlook your tongue. Use your smooth-bristled toothbrush to cleanse your tongue: Doing so might get rid of excess bacteria.

Make use of toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride.
Many think it’s challenging to know which oral care products are the most beneficial. As you’re browsing, look for a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. If used in conjunction, the two oral products may prolong the rate at which germs and tartar to build up on the teeth.

Ensure that you visit your dental care provider twice annually.
Arrange consultations with your dentist twice a year for a dental health exam and professional cleaning. Oral evaluations enable the team at DentalWorks – Dublin to detect problems like periodontal disease when they first develop. To help those with dental fears, our Dublin, OH office uses many sedation techniques to ease your nerves so you can get your examinations and cleanings with ease.

Forego tobacco product dependence.
Adults who consume tobacco products (including chewing, cigarettes, or e-cigarettes) are at a higher risk to contract gum disease and various cancers. Tobacco consumption affects your immune system, making it more challenging for your body to fight off harmful germs and heal later on.

SHELTER YOUR GUM TISSUE FROM DISEASE AND RECESSION

Efficient dental care is vital for the battle against gum disease. Choose a dentist you trust, and make sure to check in at their office twice a year for dental exams and cleanings. At DentalWorks – Dublin, our staff is skilled at preventing, identifying, and eliminating periodontal disease, as well as many other dental wellness issues. Call our team to arrange a consultation and begin your path toward excellent oral health.