Are You Suffering From Gum Disease

When it comes to your oral health, there’s more to consider than just a bright white smile. Your gums also play an important role in your body, and without proper care or attention, your gums can easily become inflamed or diseased.

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is common in middle-aged and senior adults. However, it can often go undiagnosed unless you know the signs to look for and report about to your dental professional cheap generic doxycycline. In fact, you might even think that early signs of gum trouble are normal for your mouth.

How it happens

Our mouths are full of bacteria; our mouths are the perfect place for bacteria to stick around and multiply. When we spend time brushing and flossing, we eliminate most of the bacteria that stick to our teeth and gums. However, we don’t always get the bacteria completely out of our mouth and off our teeth.

In these cases, bacteria move up to the gums, causing the first stage of gum disease, or gingivitis. If gingivitis goes untreated or unresolved, the bacteria continue to move further into the gum, causing periodontitis, and further damage to the gum and potentially the bone and teeth.

What to look for

Gingivitis and periodontitis typically show similar symptoms from patient to patient. Carefully consider if you have any of these signs of trouble:

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Bad breath that is unresolved
• Swollen gums
• Red gums
• Problems or pain with chewing
• Loose teeth
• Receding gums

What to do next

If you believe you have any signs of gingivitis or periodontitis, schedule an appointment to meet with us. You don’t have to wait until your next checkup or appointment, especially if you are having significant bleeding or tenderness of your gum line. Our team can not only give your mouth a thorough cleaning, but we can also walk you through the next steps to stop the gum damage from continuing.

You can always prevent the onset of gum disease by having good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth daily, refrain from smoking, and tell your dental team if you have diabetes so that we can pay extra close attention to your oral health.

Gum disease is best prevented, but treatment is effective when necessary, and when treated sooner than later. Don’t delay if you are having issues with your gums. Let us exam you and get your gums back on the right track.