The bacteria in your mouth are naturally occurring, but they can still create serious problems for your oral health. That goes for the surfaces of your teeth, and your gums. Just like tooth decay, gum disease is a condition that can get much worse over time if you leave it untreated. What starts out as gingivitis (characterized by chronic inflammation), can become periodontitis in time. This condition has a corrosive effect on your jaw bone, causing you to lose bone mass, and eventually lose teeth. To avoid the serious aftermath of gum disease, treat it early and stop it from forming at all.
Treat Your Gum Disease as Soon as You Notice the Signs
If you’re making biannual trips to the dentist, your healthcare professionals are evaluating your teeth and gums for any major problems. When you start to skip appointments, that’s when you may develop a condition like gum disease. Redness, swelling, and pain in a particular area of your gum line may be the signs of gingivitis. If you begin to notice these symptoms, you should talk to your dentist. They will probably recommend that you schedule an appointment to treat your gum disease with a deep cleaning.
Deep Cleanings Remove Bacteria from Beneath the Gums
A deep cleaning is a special technique designed to help keep the surfaces of your teeth clean, especially the ones you can’t see. The roots of your teeth extend deep beneath the gum line. Those surfaces can still develop a bacterial infection the same way a cavity would form on the crown of your tooth. A deep cleaning, known as “scaling and root planing,” destroys the bacteria beneath the gums and smooths the roots of the tooth so that it can reconnect cleanly to the jaw bone.
Preventing Gum Disease Prevents Serious Aftermath
Gingivitis is reversible, but periodontitis is not. To avoid the serious aftermath of gum disease — loss of jaw bone strength and loosening of teeth — you should try to prevent the condition altogether. You can prevent gum disease by brushing thoroughly around your gum line, flossing between teeth on a daily basis, and visiting your dentist at least twice a year. These are all simple steps, but if you stick to them, you can drastically reduce your risk for the development of gingivitis and all of the accompanying problems.
Find Preventive Care at Rodem Tree Dental
The best way to avoid the consequences of serious oral health conditions is to avoid those conditions altogether. You can do that by making preventive visits to your dentist at Rodem Tree Dental. Our office provides preventive care that keeps you ahead of problems like gum disease. Schedule your appointment for a checkup and cleaning at Rodem Tree Dental in Rowlett, TX by calling 972-475-2321.