Maintaining healthy gums is a key element of optimal oral health and overall physical wellness. Thompson Advanced Dentistry provides treatment for all stages of gum disease. Dr. Thompson, your restorative dentist in Greeley, CO can help you keep your gums healthy with personalized dental care and oral hygiene advice. Restorative dentistry can address any unique functional factors you may have. Get complete dental care for your smile, and let us support your long-term dental health.
Why Is Gum Health Important?
Healthy, stable gums support healthy teeth. The gums serve as a foundation for your bite and nourish the bone, nerve, and tooth structure that creates your oral system. When bacteria and infection compromise gum health, the gums can break down over time. This can lead to pockets between the teeth and the gums as gum tissue shrinks away. This leads to changes in the bite as teeth shift or become compromised.
At Thompson Advanced Dentistry, we emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy gums and screening for the early signs of disease at all preventive dental care visits. Keeping your gums healthy is one of the key reasons for visiting with us twice a year. It allows our team to identify gum disease early when conservative treatment can be successful.
Regular visits also enable us to get to know you better. Then, we can provide personalized care and advice for your smile. If you have a medical condition, take prescribed medications, or have lifestyle habits that could affect gum health, discuss them with us during your regular visits so we can work with you to manage concerns about gum health or chronic gum disease.
The Stages of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease progresses through multiple different stages if left untreated. They continue to increase in severity over time.
Gingivitis
This is the first stage of gum disease and the only one you can reverse with proper treatment. Many adults in America have gingivitis and may not even realize it. The symptoms of this early stage aren’t painful and can be easy to miss. Bleeding gums is the most common symptom. Everyone’s gums can bleed if they brush too hard, but try to see if this is a pattern. When it’s gingivitis, your gums bleed multiple times a week. They also become more puffy and red.
To treat gingivitis, we use more diligent oral healthcare. Instead of visiting the dentist office every six months, we’ll see you more frequently to deep clean your mouth. You’ll need to ensure you brush and floss multiple times daily at home. We may also prescribe you a microbial oral rinse to prevent bacteria buildup inside your mouth.
Mild Periodontal Disease
Once gum disease progresses to this stage, it’s no longer reversible. However, we can manage the condition. At this stage, the bacteria start attacking the bone structure, which can cause bone loss over time. We use techniques called scaling and root planing to manage mild gum disease. Gum pockets form between the gum tissue and bone, filling with debris and bacteria. We clean out these pockets and smooth down the tooth roots so the gum can properly attach to the bone again.
Moderate Periodontal Disease
Bacteria continue to become more aggressive at this stage. Not only are they attacking bone, but they’re getting in the bloodstream, carrying infection and inflammation throughout your body. This harms various areas throughout the body, taking the disease beyond your mouth. We use scaling and root planing to manage the disease at this stage, too.
Severe Periodontal Disease
This is the most aggressive stage of gum disease. Your gums start to ooze pus and blood, you have unmanageable bad breath, and it hurts to chew or bite down, especially with tougher food. The foundation for your teeth is eroding away, causing teeth to loosen and possibly even fall out. At this point, only gum surgery or laser periodontal treatment can manage the condition.
Steps You Can Take to Prevent Periodontal Disease
Preventing gum disease is vital for maintaining good oral health. Here are some effective ways to keep your gums healthy:
- Brush Your Teeth Regularly: Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is crucial. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Always brush gently along the gum line to remove plaque and prevent gum inflammation.
- Floss Daily: Flossing is a vital step in gum care. It helps remove food that is stuck and plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line. These are spots in your mouth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Make it a habit to floss gently every day.
- Use Mouthwash: Incorporate an antimicrobial mouthwash into your oral care routine. This step will help kill the bacteria that leads to gum disease.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly: Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings. We can see early signs of gum disease and offer professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet: Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid or limit your consumption of sugary drinks and acidic foods. These types of food and drinks contribute to plaque buildup and tooth decay.
- Avoid Tobacco: Smoking or using tobacco products significantly increases your risk of gum disease. One of the firsts things you should do to prevent dental diseases is to quit smoking and using all tobacco products. This step will also improve your overall health.
- Manage Stress: Stress can affect your oral health. Practice stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. These types of activities will reduce tension in your body, including your jaw and gums.
By following our advice, you can lower your risk of developing gum disease by a large margin. Avoiding gum disease will allow you to enjoy healthy gums and teeth for a lifetime.
Gum Disease FAQs
Gum disease can be detrimental to your oral health and overall wellness. Read the answers to these commonly asked questions to learn more.
What causes gum disease?
Periodontal disease is mainly from by the buildup of plaque and bacteria on and around the teeth and gums. When people fail to remove this plaque with regular brushing and flossing, it develop into a hard substance called tartar. Once tartar develops, gum inflammation, infection, and eventually gum disease is inevitable.
Can gum disease affect my physical health?
Yes, gum disease has been proven to have an effect on not only oral health but also overall physical health. When the gums are compromised by disease, their role as a barrier between harmful bacteria in the mouth and the bloodstream is diminished over time. Patients with advanced gum disease are at a greater risk for developing other health concerns, including systemic and cardiovascular disease.
Can smoking cause gum disease?
It is not a direct cause of gum disease, but smoking will double your risk of developing gum disease. Smoking can impact the effectiveness of the immune system, making you more vulnerable to gum disease and infections. The habit of smoking also makes existing gum disease more difficult to manage. If you smoke, discuss it with our team when you visit. We can support your quitting smoking and offer oral hygiene advice for managing your gum health.
Does dry mouth affect gum health?
If you experience dry mouth as a result of a medical condition or medication, it is important to let us know when you come in for a visit. Dry mouth can significantly increase your risk for gum disease due to the decrease in saliva’s cleansing role in your oral health. We can help you manage dry mouth or a lack of saliva to protect both gum and dental health.
Is gum disease contagious?
Gum disease itself is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else. However, the bacteria leads to periodontal disease can be transmitted through close contact, such as kissing or sharing utensils. Maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups will prevent the spread of these bacteria and reduce the risk of gum disease.
What will happen if do not receive periodontal disease treatment?
If you do not get treatment for periodontal disease, it will lead to serious oral and overall health complications. The infection from this oral disease can spread and cause damage to the gums, bones, and supporting structures of the teeth. This can result in tooth loss, bone deterioration, and even affect your overall health. Gum disease is not linked to other systemic conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Schedule A Dental Appointment for Healthy Gums
If you have gum disease or are concerned about the health of your gums and are looking for a local dentist in Greeley, CO, we welcome you to join the dental family at Thompson Advanced Dentistry. Contact our office to schedule an appointment by calling 970.205.9614 or request a dental visit online today.