How to Prevent Gum Disease from Getting Worse

Gum disease can strike even those who keep up with their oral hygiene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of Americans age 30 and older have periodontal disease.

While gum disease can be reversed in its early stages, the same can’t be said once it progresses to periodontal disease. If you think you may have gum disease, don’t waste any time scheduling an appointment with one of our dentists. We can protect your smile even if you’ve already been diagnosed with gum disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Some of the most common symptoms of gum disease include:

• Sore gums
• Bleeding gums
• Receding gums
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitive teeth
• Tooth loss

However, many of these symptoms can also indicate other oral health conditions. If you think you might have gum disease, it’s important to call our office and make an appointment.

What Are the Main Causes of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by untreated plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth and gums.

When the bacteria in plaque consumes the sugar and starch left inside your mouth, it produces acid that erodes tooth enamel. You have a higher risk of gum disease if you neglect your oral health by not brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily.

You may also have a higher risk of gum disease if you don’t see our dentists every six months for a routine teeth cleaning and oral examination. During your preventive care appointment, we’re able to spot the early signs of gum disease so you have a better chance of protecting your oral health.

There are three factors that affect your prognosis for gum disease:

1. What you do at home
2. What are our dentists do for you
3. Your genetics

While genetics are hard to beat, working with our dentists can help you control at least two of these three factors. When you first become our patient, we have you fill out a form regarding your medical and dental history so we can better serve your oral health needs. This is just one of the many ways we look out for our patients.

Is Gum Disease Reversible?

Early gum disease, also called gingivitis, can be reversed by adopting good oral hygiene habits and seeing one of our dentists for a professional teeth cleaning twice a year. During your appointment, we will be able to remove plaque and tartar and monitor your oral health. At home, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily will go a long way in preventing plaque buildup.

Advanced gum disease, also called periodontal disease, cannot be reversed. However, our dentists are able to mitigate the damaging effects of periodontal disease through scaling and root planing. Periodontal treatment can help you avoid some of the more serious side effects, such as receding gums and tooth loss.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

People with periodontal disease tend to have deep gum pockets around teeth that get filled with plaque. During periodontal disease treatment, our dentists will be able to deep clean these pockets and smooth out your tooth roots. Not only does scaling and root planing remove plaque, but it also encourages receding gums to reattach to your teeth.

Save Your Smile from Gum Disease

Our Grand Rapids, MI, gum disease treatment dentists can help you save your smile from gum disease. To schedule your appointment, call Contemporary Family Dental today at (616) 209-3969 or contact us online.

This blog post has been updated.