Don’t Let Gum Disease Destroy Your Smile!

Welcome to the Perrigo Dental Care blog!

In our Hoover, Alabama office, we see a lot of patients who have experienced tooth loss as adults. This is always a traumatic event that requires good solutions, such as dental implants.

But did you know that most of the adults with missing teeth in this country ended up that way as the direct result of undiagnosed and/or untreated gum disease? True story!

So, what can be done to avoid that fate? Plenty!

Read on to learn more, and then get in-touch to schedule your next preventive dentistry appointment.

Here’s How It Starts

The problem begins with gingivitis. This is your body’s response to being attacked by the bacteria contained in plaque. The good news is that this early stage of gum disease can be easily reversed.

But the bad news is that is is hard to tell when it is present! At least at first.

There are a few noticeable effects: it causes bad breath and a mild inflammation of your gums. There might even be blood! That is, when you brush and floss your teeth.

What brings it on?

A number of things. Gingivitis can be accelerated by lax oral hygiene practices, tobacco use, poor diet, hormonal changes, and even genetics.

The scary thing is that it gets aggressive fast. And as the plaque build-up slips under your gumline, gingivitis will transform into a more advanced form of gum disease that will attack your health systems.

Watch Out For Periodontal Disease

Not surprisingly, gum disease won’t just run its course and go away quietly. Once you are confronted with advanced gum disease, also called periodontal disease, your gums will be extremely sore, swollen and bloody. And that’s just the beginning.

As this disease advances, your teeth will start to become loose and fall out. Your gums and bone structure are its main target, which means that your teeth will be left with no support structure to hold them where they belong. At this juncture, you will have trouble on your hands. And an implant procedure will likely be in your future.

Your Body Is At Risk

Diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease may be linked to the same bacteria that causes gum disease! There also seems to be a link with certain kinds of cancer! That’s crazy, right?

And if the infection makes it into your bloodstream, and your lungs, there’s no telling what it can do. That’s why seeking treatment, ASAP, is the key to making this chapter end well.

Perrigo Dental Care Is Ready To Help

Like we said, the effects of the early stages of gum disease can be easily reversed. But how would you know it is attacking your mouth? That’s easy! By keeping regular appointments with our team.

Our professional cleanings and intense oral exams make a big difference. While you are here for your teeth cleaning, we will poke and prod you looking for any signs of infection and disease so that we can deal with it swiftly.

Keeping up with your duties in-between visits (like brushing, flossing, and rinsing) will also go a long way. Usually, this combination will get you back on track.

In the event that you have an extreme case of gum disease, we may send you to a periodontist. And if there has already been tooth loss, we will need to look into restoration options like artificial teeth and so forth.

No matter what, we will work with you to secure the best possible outcome for your situation.

Protect Your Smile!

Call our Hoover, AL dental office right away at 205-545-8007 to schedule your healthy gum consultation. We can’t wait to see your smiling face!