Nearly 70 million Americans suffer from gum disease—a debilitating, yet completely preventable, dental disease. Gum disease progresses over three stages: gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. In this blog post, we’ll go over the symptoms of gingivitis and also present ways that you can avoid developing advanced gum disease in the future.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a painful infection that erodes the tissue and bone that surround and protect your teeth, leaving them vulnerable to decay and eventually tooth loss.
Causes of Gum Disease
Gum disease is most commonly caused by lack of oral hygiene. When plaque and bacteria sit on your teeth for an extended period of time, it hardens, causing your gums to slowly separate from your teeth. Frequent brushing and flossing is the primary way to ensure that you don’t develop gum disease.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
The most common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Red, swollen gums
- Bleeding gums, especially after flossing, brushing, and eating
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Gums separating from teeth
If you have one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to go to your dentist right away to assess whether or not you have gum disease, and if so, in what stage. You may require a deep cleaning of the gums or a more specialized treatment depending on the extent of your symptoms.
At Smiles Dental, we offer periodontal disease treatment plans that are tailored to your specific needs so that you can enjoy the healthy and radiant smile that you deserve.
Preventing Gum Disease
The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush and floss your teeth twice per day. Keeping the surface of your teeth and the area under the gum line plaque and bacteria free will give you strong, healthy gums and teeth!
Discover the Smiles Dental difference today!
Are you ready for the happy, healthy smile of your dreams? When you choose Smiles Dental Services, you’re putting your smile in the hands of highly-trained professionals you can trust. Above all, we provide our patients with leading-edge dentistry that goes above and beyond.