Your gums serve a crucial role when it comes to supporting your teeth roots, protecting your teeth and underlying bone structure, providing a stable base for chewing, and acting as a barrier against harmful bacteria. It’s vital that you take care of them. But perhaps you’ve already accidentally neglected your oral health. In that case, it’s vital that you revamp your home care routine, schedule an appointment with a dentist, and watch out for the symptoms of gum disease. Not only can gum disease threaten your gums and teeth, but it can actually impact your systemic health and has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, and more. What is gum disease? That’s a big question. Scroll down to dig into all the ins and outs, from the symptoms, stages, and repercussions to treatment methods and prevention tips.
Gum Disease 101
What Do Healthy Gums Look Like?
First, you might wonder if your gums are currently the picture of health — or show concerning signs of gum disease. The best way to find out is by scheduling a dental check-up. But if you’re simply curious about the characteristics of gums that are in tip-top condition, review our blog post What Do Healthy Gums Look Like?
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Now let’s dig into the basics of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. You might find it helpful to first check out our blog post Stages of Periodontal Disease, as each stage is distinct and presents different symptoms and concerns.
Then, you can review the mildest stage, gingivitis, in our blog post What Is Gingivitis? At this stage, your gums may be red and swollen, but you can reverse the condition by improving your oral hygiene. Dig a little deeper into this initial stage with our blog posts What Causes Gingivitis? and How to Treat Gingivitis.
After that, look at the other end of the spectrum: periodontitis, a chronic and irreversible stage of gum disease that can lead to bone and tooth loss. We explore this stage in detail in our blog post What Is Periodontitis?
Symptoms of Gum Disease
You already know what healthy gums look like. But what if your gums are showing some concerning symptoms? Again, we hate to be a broken record, but you really should schedule a dentist appointment if you notice anything unusual or worrying. In the meantime, you might like to explore these blog posts for more information:
- Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Floss?
- Why Do My Gums Hurt?
- Mild Periodontitis Symptoms to Watch Out For
- Signs of Advanced Gum Disease
Preventing & Treating Gum Recession
Gum recession is a common symptom of periodontal disease, so you may wish to explore it as well, especially if you’ve noticed that your teeth’s roots are more exposed than they used to be. Remember: your gums play an important role in protecting your teeth. If they recede, they’ll leave your roots vulnerable to dangerous bacteria.
Can You Reverse Gum Recession? You’ll have to read that blog post to find out! You’ll likely also be interested in our blog post How to Fix Receding Gums, which summarizes some of the treatment options available.
If your gums aren’t receding yet, be sure to check out our blog post Preventing Gum Recession so that you can avoid this condition altogether if possible. This is important even if you don’t suffer from gum disease, as gum recession can be caused by other factors as well.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
The treatment for gum disease varies based on the stage and your specific symptoms. Your dentist will evaluate your gums and teeth and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Although periodontitis is irreversible, it’s absolutely essential that you receive treatment to prevent the disease from worsening and threatening more severe complications, like tooth loss.
Check out our blog post How to Treat Mild Periodontitis if you’re still in the early stages. After that, you’ll want to review common treatments like scaling and root planing. The following blog posts will give you a solid understanding of the basics:
- What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
- Advanced Gum Disease Treatment
- What to Expect After Scaling and Root Planing
- Pinhole Gum Surgery 101
- Home Care Following Gum Disease Treatment
How to Prevent Gum Disease
Perhaps you’re just curious about periodontal disease, or you were exploring it on behalf of a loved one. In that case, do your best to take good care of your teeth and gums so that you never experience gum disease. With regular dental appointments and a solid at-home oral health routine, you can keep your gums in tip-top shape. Check out our blog post How to Prevent Gum Disease for more info.
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Are you noticing signs of gum disease? We can help. If you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist near Springfield, Missouri, contact Wilkinson Dental. Dr. Wilkinson and his team will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. For exceptional and comprehensive dental care, schedule your first appointment today by calling 417-708-0556 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!