Dentists recommend proper oral hygiene from a young age to achieve good dental health for a lifetime. This is important for cosmetic reasons, but also to maintain overall health. One of the consequences of not brushing and flossing correctly is gum disease, which is also known as periodontal disease. This condition originally affects the gums, but it can progress to involve the teeth and even lead to bodily infection if left untreated. There are three stages of gum disease, and symptoms range from mild to severe.
Having regular dental checkups is important for many reasons, and preventing periodontal disease is one of them. During the early stages of the disease, there may be few, if any, symptoms, so a patient often is not aware of the problem. During an office visit, however, a dentist can detect the issue and treat it before it becomes worse. The dental cleaning during the visit also helps prevent gum disease in the first place.
It is critical to catch gum disease as soon as possible. It is feasible to treat and reverse it at an early stage, but if it progresses to the advanced phases, it is impossible to reverse.
When bacteria in the mouth is able to thrive, it becomes plaque, which can harden into tartar if not removed from the teeth. Tartar that collects on and between the teeth and along the gum line leads to gingivitis, which is the first stage of periodontal disease. While gingivitis often occurs without noticeable symptoms, patients may see some gum tenderness, redness, or swelling. While bleeding gums can occur normally as a result of hormonal changes or trauma from eating hard foods, flossing too vigorously, or brushing with the wrong type of toothbrush, frequent bleeding from normal brushing or flossing is generally a sign of gingivitis.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses to the second stage of gum disease, which is called periodontitis. At this phase, the bacteria that has collected under the gums release toxins that cause an infection. This can lead to receding gums and cause the teeth to appear longer than normal. The mouth may also look like pockets have formed between the teeth and gums. These pockets further trap food, which results in more bacteria buildup. Over time, bone loss begins to occur.
At this advanced stage, the accumulation of tartar has increased the release of toxins under the gum line, leading to the loss of bone and deterioration of connective tissue. This results in the affected teeth loosening, which can cause changes to the fit of the teeth when biting down. There is also advanced infection in the mouth, which may show up as white pus along the gums. In the severe stages of periodontitis, tooth loss is common, which further weakens the bone structure in the gums and causes additional stress on the remaining teeth. By this time, usually, the only options are surgery, tooth extraction, and antibiotics.
A checkup generally consists of a professional cleaning and a thorough exam. The cleaning can help prevent gum disease because it thoroughly removes stubborn plaque and tartar that regular brushing does not dislodge. By removing bacteria, it cannot build up underneath the gums and cause infection.
During the exam, the dentist looks at the patient's teeth, tongue, and soft tissues of the mouth, including the gums. X-rays may also be taken. Because the patient often does not notice any symptoms during the early stages of gum disease, the dentist can pick up signs during the exam. These may include recessed or swollen gums. If gum disease is found, often a deeper cleaning will be recommended to prevent the condition from getting worse.
Gingivitis in the earliest stages of gum disease is relatively common. This condition is easy to treat with proper brushing, flossing, rinsing, and thorough professional cleaning. Although it is sometimes difficult to detect, an awareness of the symptoms can help patients to identify the subtle signs and help them make sure the condition does not progress to the advanced stages of periodontitis. Fortunately, gum disease follows a slow progression before irreversible damage and tooth loss become serious issues. Taking part in routine dental checkups twice a year with a trusted professional can help to prevent gum disease from forming in the first place, as well as diagnose it in the beginning stages and stop it from reaching the point of no return.
Request an appointment here: https://www.newyorkdentaloffice.com or call New York Dental Office at (212) 548-3261 for an appointment in our New York office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gum Disease in New York, NY.
Most people have experienced seeing red on the bristles of their toothbrush, or a pink tint in the sink when they expectorate after brushing. It is normal to feel a bit of concern when noticing blood in the mouth because bleeding gums are a symptom commonly associated with gum disease. However, while chronic bleeding gums…
Bleeding gums are a symptom of poor gum health. Since you may not experience pain or discomfort, you may not think it is serious. In many, bleeding gums indicate gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious health complications.Gum disease develops when plaque and tartar buildup along the gumline causes inflammation. Over…
Flossing can seem like a chore, but the link between flossing and bleeding gums is clear. Sometimes, when you floss, you might occasionally find it causes your gums to bleed. That does not mean that flossing is bad for you — but you may not be doing it properly. Frequent flossing is the solution to…
There are many reasons why bleeding gums may occur. If it only happens once in a while, it is typically not cause for concern. Gums can bleed because of brushing or flossing that is overly vigorous. If bleeding is an ongoing occurrence, however, there may be an underlying medical or dental condition causing it. The…
Dentures are the way to go if you are looking for an affordable way to replace missing teeth. They typically fall under one of two categories: partial and complete dentures. Partial dentures are recommended when a person has lost only some of the teeth in a dental arch. Full dentures are typically recommended for those…
There are many reasons why adult orthodontics is used to treat tooth issues. You may have crowded teeth, missing teeth, or your jaws may be out of alignment (a condition that is also known as malocclusion or “bad bite.” These conditions can cause increased wear on your teeth, cause jaw pain or make you have…
