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Gum disease is one of the reasons why you need Bowling Green Family Dental care. The goal is to see your dentist at least twice a year to prevent gum disease from occurring.

But, if you are already exhibiting signs of gum problem, your dentist may still be able to reverse it as long as it is detected early. Other terms for gum disease are periodontitis and periodontal disease. What can cause gum disease? How can you prevent it, and what do dentists do to treat the condition?

Understanding Gum Disease

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease starts with bacteria in your mouth. Without treatment, gum disease can lead to the destruction of your gum tissues and tooth loss.

What Is Gingivitis and How Is It Different From Periodontitis?

Gum disease is categorized into stages. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. It precedes periodontitis. However, it’s important to mention that gingivitis does not always mean it will progress to periodontitis.

The symptoms of gingivitis are only mild, but if you don’t get proper treatment, they can quickly advance and cause major problems. The good news is that you can easily prevent gum disease or, better yet, reverse it (as long as it is in its early stage) by practicing proper dental hygiene and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups and routine teeth cleanings.

What Causes Gum Disease?

During the early stage of the disease, bacteria in plaque will start accumulating on the surface of your teeth and along the gumline. The buildup of plaque will eventually cause gum inflammation. You know your gums are inflamed when they bleed easily during brushing and flossing. Although your gums are irritated and inflamed, they will still firmly hold your teeth in place.

The disease can progress to periodontitis if it’s not treated. Patients with periodontitis will notice that their gum tissues slowly pull away from their teeth. At this stage, gum pockets are evident.

The spaces these pockets create will cause food debris and bacteria to collect, inevitably leading to further irritation and infection. As your immune system fights off bacteria, plaque and tartar will continue to spread on your teeth and below the gum line.

Toxins released by bacteria will start destroying your gum and bone tissues. If the disease is allowed to progress, the pockets will deepen, and more tissues will become damaged. At this stage, your gums will no longer be able to anchor your teeth leading to tooth loss.

How Is It Treated?

Treating gum disease is pretty straightforward. First, your dentist will determine the severity of the problem to identify suitable treatment. The goal of the treatment is to reattach the teeth to your gums, minimize the swelling, reduce the depth of the gum pockets, stop the infection, and ultimately prevent disease progression. It can be a combination of surgical and nonsurgical therapies.

Can You Prevent Gum Disease?

If you follow your dentist’s advice, you shouldn’t have to worry about it. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once daily, and see your dentist once every six months to have your teeth and gums checked and cleaned.

Do You Need Bowling Green Family Dental Treatment?

Thankfully, gum disease can be prevented as long as you keep plaque under control. At Brighten Dental, we offer unmatched dental care services to restore your oral health. Contact us today if you want to book an appointment.