The Signs Of Gum Disease
As our body goes through the aging process, it becomes more and more difficult to keep our teeth at optimal condition. The material that the teeth are made from start to break down after awhile, making it easier to contract things like bacteria and decay. You must be diligent in cleaning your teeth and looking after their health. Here are some warning signs to look for regarding gum disease and some steps that you can take to try to reverse the process before it is too late.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis can be noticed if you have red or swollen gums. They may bleed when you brush your teeth. You may notice that your teeth look elongated or that there seem to be bigger spaces in between your teeth than you had noticed previously. All of these symptoms mean that you have a gum problem that will need to be taken care of immediately so that your gingivitis does not turn into periodontal disease.
You can fix gum disease by brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day. Gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene. At the gingivitis stage it can still be turned around. You may also need to have your dentist do scrapings of your teeth to remove any plaque buildup.
Periodontal Disease
If you ignore the symptoms of gum disease, the next step would be periodontal disease. This is when your gums have so much plaque and tartar embedded underneath them, that it makes the bone deteriorate underneath the teeth. This happens because the body will try to ward off infection by having the bones deteriorate underneath the gums. The teeth will no longer be able to be held into place since the bone is no longer structured strongly. Your teeth will fall out from gum disease.
You can try to reverse gum disease by seeing a periodontist to do a scraping underneath the gums to remove tartar and plaque. You may need to have a surgical procedure to have this done if you had scrapings with gingivitis that did not alleviate the conditions. The plaque may be in the bone region and would need to be removed while you are under sedation.
If the bone has deteriorated already, you may need to have a bone scan to try and build it up so your teeth have an area to stay anchored. This can be done by doing a bone and skin graft. This will also be done while you are under sedation.
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