Prepare Yourself for the Long Haul If Recommended Periodontal Treatment
You may seek gum disease treatment from the dentist near you because you observe bleeding from your gums when brushing or flossing. The therapy you desire indicates that unless you follow the dentist’s instructions to the word and maintain excellent dental hygiene, your mouth’s condition may soon need advanced periodontal treatment from all care dental.
Dentists provide gum disease treatment to thousands of patients, advising them frequently to take appropriate care of their dental hygiene. Gum disease is entirely preventable by brushing twice a day, flossing once, and getting frequent checkups from the dentist. Let the condition progresses to moderate or advanced periodontal disease, and you are in for the long haul because the situation remains with you throughout your life.
Many people seek periodontal treatment provided by dentists, unaware that a cure for this condition isn’t available. The patient can only maintain the disease for as long as they live. Any treatment available for this condition is only in the primary stages when gingivitis initially develops in the mouth because of poor oral hygiene. Therefore if you are receiving treatment for gum disease, consider yourself lucky because it was detected early and is reversible with therapy from the dentist and proper dental care.
Differences between Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease
The onset of periodontal disease begins with gingivitis causing gum inflammation and bleeding to indicate people must take better care of their oral hygiene. During the initial stages of gingivitis, the bacteria in the plaque multiply to cause inflammation in the gums and bleed easily when brushing and flossing. The gums continue to remain irritated despite being firmly attached to their sockets. Early gingivitis does not cause any damages to the bone tissue.
When you leave gingivitis untreated, you invite the condition of periodontitis in your mouth. Periodontal disease causes your gums to recede to form pockets. Small pockets developing between the gums and your teeth collect debris to become infected. Even as your body’s immune system starts to fight the bacteria, the plaque begins to spread and grow below the gum line.
In reality, gingivitis appears like flu symptoms, while full-fledged periodontitis is flu itself. If you have allowed gingivitis to progress to periodontal disease, you must seek treatment for this condition without delay.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The leading cause of gum disease is plaque continuously developing on your teeth and easily removable by brushing and flossing. However, other reasons are contributing to the development of periodontal disease. Gingivitis may develop in women during various stages of their lives, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. A family history of dental conditions can also result in gingivitis besides poor oral hygiene habits.
Gingivitis progresses painlessly without displaying any signs even when the condition has advanced to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease undoubtedly shows some symptoms without providing any warning signs. Familiar symbols of periodontal disease observed are the following:
- Bleeding from the gums after brushing and flossing.
- Receding gums causing pockets to form between the teeth and gums.
- Shifting or loose teeth.
- Changes in the alignment of teeth when biting down.
You may not notice any symptoms, but the presence of gum disease would have affected you. In some cases, this condition may involve a few teeth in the mouth like your molars. The situation is better diagnosed by a periodontist, a specialist providing periodontal treatment.
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Suppose you have advanced or moderate periodontal disease. In that case, the treatment for the condition is reattaching healthy gums to the teeth by reducing the pocket depth to inhibit the risks of infections and the progress of the disease. The periodontist’s treatment options consider the stage of the condition and how you responded to any treatment provided earlier. Periodontal treatment options range from surgical intervention and nonsurgical therapies to inhibit the growth of the bacteria or restore supportive tissues.
Is It Possible to Prevent Periodontitis?
As mentioned earlier, gum disease is a preventable condition. Still, if you let the situation progress to periodontitis, you must continue receiving treatment because a cure isn’t available for the problem. It is why you must maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, having a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and visiting your dentist for exams and cleanings every six months. The dental visits enable dentists to detect signs of gingivitis and suggest remedies to prevent the condition from progressing to periodontal disease.