February is Gum Disease Awareness Month and here at 5 Star Dental Group, we believe in educating our patients so they feel empowered to make the right choices for their dental health.
Gum disease is a serious condition that can cause chronic long-term issues. But with the right knowledge, it can be prevented or even reversed in the early stages.
With proper regular dental care, your teeth and gums will stay healthy.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease begins with inflammation of the gums due to plaque buildup and if left untreated, it can affect the bones supporting the teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss.
The stages of gum disease:
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Plaque buildup at the gumline that isn’t removed by regular brushing and flossing can produce toxins that irritate the gums and cause gingivitis.
Fortunately, gum disease can be improved at this stage since it hasn’t progressed into the bone or connective tissue.
Stage 2: Periodontitis
At this stage, the disease has progressed into the bone and fibers that support your teeth. The diseases is now irreversible, but with proper dental care, you can usually prevent it from progressing further.
Stage 3: Advanced periodontitis
When gum disease has progressed to this stage, the fibers and bone supporting the teeth are destroyed. The breakdown of the bone and fibers can cause teeth to loosen and shift. Teeth may even need to be removed if dental treatment can’t save them.
Early symptoms of gum disease
Noticing gum disease at the earliest stage is key in preventing progression.
Early symptoms may include:
- Red, puffy, swollen gums
- Bleeding from the gums during brushing or flossing
- Receding gumlines
- Gums separating from the teeth creating a pocket
- Changes in bite
- Pus secretion from between the teeth and gums
- Bad breath and/or a bad taste in your mouth
How is it treated or prevented?
Proper and regular dental habits like brushing and flossing daily will prevent plaque buildup.
Once plaque has hardened into tartar, professional dental cleaning is the only way to remove it. Your dentist will scale your teeth to remove the hardened plaque around the gumline and help give guidance on next steps for continued care and prevention of progression.
Regular dental check ups and daily habits are the best way to avoid progression of gum disease and keep your smile healthy and glowing.