Straight Talk About Gum Disease

Straight Talk About Gum Disease

Did you know that most of the tooth loss experienced by adults in the U.S. is the direct result of undiagnosed and/or untreated gum disease? That’s crazy, right? Especially considering the fact that this is a totally preventable condition. And if it does appear, the effects of gum disease can be easily reversed during the early stages.

That’s why we’d like to explore this issue with today’s blogpost. Hopefully we can save you pain and expense down the road by educating and preparing you now.

Gingivitis Is Only The Beginning

Let’s start at the beginning. Gingivitis is your body’s natural response to being attacked by the bacteria contained in plaque. This early stage of gum disease can be contained.

How can you tell it is present?

It causes chronic bad breath and a mild inflammation of your gums. There might even be bleeding when you brush and floss your teeth.

Sadly, though, you may not realize you are facing this issue until an oral health professional detects it. Doesn’t that make you want to set-up your next preventive appointment?!

Anyway, gingivitis can be accelerated by lax oral hygiene practices, tobacco use, poor diet, hormonal changes, and even genetics. And as the plaque build-up slips under your gumline, gingivitis will give way to a more advanced form gum disease that wil wreak havoc on your body.

Periodontal Disease Is A Nasty Condition

Like most medical issues, gum disease won’t go away all by itself. Once you are dealing with advanced gum disease, also called periodontal disease, your gums will be quite sore, swollen and bloody. But wait, it gets worse!

When this disease progresses, your teeth will start to become dislodged. Your gums and bone structure are its primary target, which means that your teeth will be left with no support structure to hold them in-place. At this point, you will have real problems. And you will need to start shopping for artificial teeth on top of it all!

Gum Disease Won’t Stop With Your Mouth

The extent of the damage that gum disease can do is disconcerting. Did you know that diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease may be linked to the same bacteria that causes gum disease? Yep! There also seems to be a link with some types of cancer!

Once the infection makes it into your bloodstream, and your lungs, all bets are off. That’s why getting treatment, as soon as possible, is the key to attaining a happy ending for you.

Perrigo Dental Care Has The Tools And Training To Turn It Around

As we mentioned already, the effects of the early stages of gum disease can be easily reversed. But how would you know that needs to be done? Stay in-touch with us!

Regularly keeping your appointments for professional cleanings and thorough oral exams will go a long way. When you are here for your cleaning, we will look for any signs of infection and disease and treat it right away.

Maintaining good oral hygiene habits in-between visits (like brushing, flossing, and rinsing) will also be a huge help. Oftentimes, this combination will put you back on the good road.

If you have a severe case of gum disease, we will likely refer you to a periodontist. And if there has already been tooth loss, we will need to explore restoration options such as dental implants.

One way or another, we will find the best possible solution for your current needs.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

Contact our Hoover, AL dental office right away to schedule your healthy gum consultation.