Armed with regular dental hygiene routines like brushing and flossing, you build your greatest shield against gum disease. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings also play a vital role in this defense strategy, as these appointments help eliminate tartar accumulation and ensure prompt detection of any gum diseases.
Here’s some refreshing news! If identified promptly, gum disease has the potential to be reversed. However, neglect in maintaining proper dental hygiene could eventually make it irreversible. Failing to acknowledge this in time might result in loose teeth, opening the door to possible extraction.
By maintaining consistent dental care and cleanings, you have the power to lessen the impact of gum disease, including symptoms like bleeding gums and unpleasant breath, all the while promoting the health of your gums.
What Is Gum Disease?
Periodontal (gum) disease ranks among Canada’s top dental challenges that adults grapple with. As individuals age, the odds of developing this condition rise, evidenced by a staggering 70.1% of adults aged 65 and above affected with periodontal disease. Despite its prevalence, gum disease can initiate at any life stage.
With its subtle, pain-free development, it’s quite possible to overlook its onset, missing the critical early symptoms.
What Are the Signs?
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Regular dental check-ups can be instrumental in maintaining optimal dental health. Gum disease can creep up unnoticed, posing serious risks to your teeth if not detected early.
Do you know gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, which can progress to the more severe periodontal disease? The silver lining is, with your commitment and our dental team’s assistance, early detection can lead to successful reversal.
Be alert for symptoms such as:
- Pain in your gums
- Discomfort while chewing
- Altered gum color
- Persistent foul breath
- Redness, swelling, and puffiness in gums
- Bleeding during brushing or flossing
- Gums receding from your teeth
Stay vigilant and stay healthy!
Gingivitis
Think of gum disease, or gingivitis as it’s known in its initial phases, as the uninvited guest at your smile’s party. Picture your gums, usually a healthy pink, looking angry, red, and swollen. They often bleed when you’re simply trying to keep them clean. Flossing turns from a routine activity into a discomforting ritual. Plus, you can’t shake off that unpleasant or metallic flavor lingering in your mouth.
Gingivitis arises from the pile-up of plaque on your teeth, a place where bacteria flourish. By regularly brushing and flossing, you’re able to dislodge this accumulation before it transforms into tartar (or calculus).
When plaque accumulates beneath the gum line, it transforms into subgingival calculus. If it piles up above the gumline, we refer it as supragingival calculus.
If you allow the plaque to build up without intervention, it eventually hardens into tartar. Tartar is one stubborn substance that cannot be ousted by mere brushing or flossing.
This is where a dental hygienist comes to your rescue, with the right tools to eliminate tartar buildup. Therefore, a regular dental hygiene routine is critical to mitigate the risk of a serious gum condition known as periodontitis.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, another name for severe gum disease, is a harmful infection attacking the tissues that keep your teeth firmly anchored. Over time, it can lead to loose teeth, heightened sensitivity in your teeth, receding, tender gums, and unwelcome bad breath. It’s severe enough to even induce abscesses.
When inflammation strikes your gums, it tends to distance them from the tooth’s foundation. This action results in the formation of gaps between your teeth and gums – a phenomenon known as periodontal pockets. Consequently, your teeth may appear to have elongated.
As the periodontitis progresses, it may result in the shifting of your teeth. You may notice them becoming loose and unsteady, or even experience pain while chewing.
Periodontitis can lead to decay of the bone surrounding the tooth, resulting in additional tooth loss while potentially fostering bacteria in periodontal pockets. This is the underlying reason why one of the key indicators is bad breath.
The broader the gum cavity, the more room for harmful bacterial plaque to infiltrate further down the tooth’s base. If neglected, it could even assault and deteriorate the jawbone encircling the teeth, revealing a portion of the teeth roots.
Once periodontitis reaches a certain stage, it’s irreversible. The damage is done – your gums can’t regenerate, nor can the bone loss be recovered.
Periodontitis follows a pattern, making its journey in episodes. You might come across short spurts wherein your soft tissue is compromised, only to be followed by extended stretches where the ailment appears to be stagnant or the tissue shows signs of slight rejuvenation. However, it’s crucial to remember that periodontitis won’t retreat on its own.
How Periodontal Disease is Diagnosed
There are 3 fundamental methods your dentist uses to detect periodontal disease:
- The initial step involves an in-depth examination of your gums for inflammation. They may use a specialized small-scale instrument known as a periodontal probe to measure the tiny spaces around your teeth. Ideally, these gaps should be no more than 3 millimeters. If these pockets are found to be deeper, this could be a sign of periodontal disease.
- Furthermore, your dentist will acquire a detailed overview of your past and present health issues. It is worth noting that certain lifestyle habits and health conditions like smoking and diabetes can exacerbate gum disease.
- Lastly, your dental hygienist will utilize detailed images of your mouth, focusing mainly on the points where your teeth attach to your gums. Here, they will be on the lookout for any bone loss, a core indication of gum disease
Treatment for Gingivitis & Periodontal Disease in Markham
Act proactively and nip gum disease at the bud! Regular brushing, flossing and using antiseptic mouthwash are key measures. They help you reach every nook and cranny of your mouth that your toothbrush might miss.We can’t emphasize enough the importance of 2 comprehensive dental check-ups and cleanings a year by our expert team at Bright View Dental Care. Make a swift move, schedule your appointment today! Together, let’s sidestep gum disease, nip early signs in the bud and ensure your oral health is nothing short of perfect.
