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Gum disease is inflammation and infection of the gums or bone surrounding the teeth. Plaque buildup is the leading cause of gum disease although other factors like family history, hormonal changes during pregnancy, specific medications, and some medical conditions may contribute as well.
Gum disease is a common health problem in the United States. More than three-quarters of the adult population over the age of 35 eventually suffer from some type of it, ranging in severity from inflammation and sensitivity, to advanced periodontitis, a serious gum infection that can lead to tooth loss.
If you suffer from tender, red, swollen or bleeding gums, you have some form of periodontal disease. It is also possible to have periodontal disease without any apparent symptoms.
To determine the severity of your gum disease and determine if you have gingivitis or periodontitis, our doctors will need to take some measurements of your gums and look at current x-rays of your teeth. They can then tell you how severe your condition is and help you determine what your next steps should be to treat your gum disease.
CAN I PREVENT GUM DISEASE?
Yes! Gum disease is a preventable condition! The best way to avoid gum disease is to come in for professional dental cleanings every 6 months to remove tartar build up, brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and floss daily.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I HAVE GUM DISEASE BUT I DON’T WANT TO HAVE IT TREATED?
Treating gum disease is very important because as the disease progresses the bone in your jaw which holds your teeth in place starts to disappear. When enough bone resorbs your teeth may begin to get loose and can eventually start falling out.
Factors that increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
- Smokers or tobacco users
- Crooked crowded teeth, defective fillings/ caps/ bridges
- Medications for blood pressure, cancer treatment, anti-epilepsy drugs, steroids and oral contraceptives
WHY DO MY GUMS BLEED WHEN I BRUSH MY TEETH?
Do you ever wonder why when you decide to floss your teeth, if you haven’t flossed in a long while, it makes your gums bleed? It’s not a very encouraging situation and it makes you feel like flossing is only hurting you, right? The key is to keep at it for a few weeks so that your gums become strong and then they will stop bleeding. Bleeding gums is a sign of inflammation. If your gums are bleeding and flossing more isn’t making the bleeding stop, it’s a sign that something is wrong. You may have gingivitis or gum disease. In today’s video I talk about what causes bleeding gums. In the next few days we will dig deeper into gum disease so you can learn more and see what kind of treatment options are available if you do have gum disease.
WHAT IS GUM DISEASE?
Gum disease is inflammation and infection of the gums or bone surrounding the teeth. Plaque buildup is the leading cause of gum disease, although other factors like family history, hormonal changes during pregnancy, specific medications, and some medical conditions may contribute as well. It is estimated the over 65 million Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease
HOW DO YOU TREAT BLEEDING GUMS AND GUM DISEASE?
At Mint Hill Smiles prevention of gum disease is our goal. However, if you are like more than half of Americans, you may already be experiencing sensitive and bleeding gums. The treatment for gum disease depends on how far it has progressed and how severe the condition has become. In its early stages, when the infection and inflammation are limited to the gums it is called gingivitis. Gingivitis is treated with a professional cleaning, a review of brushing and flossing techniques, and potentially the use of an antibacterial mouth rinse. As gum disease becomes more severe and the infection spreads to the bone surrounding the teeth, it is called periodontitis. To treat periodontitis, deep cleaning procedures or laser periodontal therapy may be necessary to stop the disease process.
HOW SEVERE IS MY GUM DISEASE? DO I HAVE GINGIVITIS OR PERIODONTITIS?
To determine the severity of your gum disease and determine if you have gingivitis or periodontitis, a dentist will need to take some measurements of your gums and look at current x-rays of your teeth. Our doctors can tell you how severe your condition is and help you determine what your next steps should be to treat your gum disease.
CAN I PREVENT GUM DISEASE?
Yes! Gum disease is a preventable condition! The best way to avoid gum disease is to come in for professional dental cleanings every 6 months to remove tartar build up, brushing for 2 minutes twice a day, and floss daily.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I HAVE GUM DISEASE BUT I DON’T WANT TO HAVE IT TREATED?
Treating gum disease is very important because as the disease progresses the bone in your jaw which holds your teeth in place starts to disappear. When enough bone resorbs your teeth may begin to get loose and can eventually start falling out. Recent medical studies have shown that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and low birthweight or preterm babies.