You can't achieve gum health by simply brushing your teeth. Regular visits to your Family Dentist can help you prevent Gum Disease.

Gum Disease is one of the most common dental problems people face. It is also known as periodontal disease (or periodontitis) or gingivitis, which usually manifests itself as an inflammation of the gums in its early stages. When severe, this disease can cause a loss of tissues that keep your teeth in place and eventually lead to tooth loss. Therefore, it is vital to have a healthy set of gums: not only do they make your smile brighter, but they keep you and your mouth healthy.

Many people do not realize the importance of regular dental visits, even in the absence of dental problems. Dental appointments should not be made only when you have a dental problem. Instead, regular visits to your family dentist can keep your mouth from developing potential mouth diseases and problems.

This blog will talk about Gum Disease, its causes, and how regular visits to your family doctor can help you prevent plaque buildup, one of the principal causes of Gum Disease.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum Disease is or usually starts with, an inflammation of the gum’s soft tissues, usually caused by bacteria. When you brush your teeth, have you been noticing a bit of blood in the sink lately? This is one of the most common and first symptoms of Gum Disease. As is common with other health problems, Gum Disease can manifest itself in stages of increasing risk:

• Gingivitis is a mild stage of this disease that only infects the gums.
• However, when left untreated, the infection can spread into the bone – known as periodontitis.

Gum Disease, if left untreated, can raise various other health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer.

 Symptoms of Gum Disease

Before letting Gum Disease progress any further, watch out for the following symptoms to tackle this problem:

   1. Red, swollen gums

Red, swollen gums are one of the first signs of poor gum health. Your gums might start bleeding easily and feel tender and painful when you brush or floss your teeth.

   2. Bad breath

Your mouth is home to various bacteria. The more plaque you have, the more bacteria found in your mouth. This can lead to bad breath, one significant sign of Gum Disease

   3. Sensitive teeth

Do you wince every time you take a sip of cold water? That could be your gums screaming and telling you they are infected and need attention (or it could be a cavity).

   4. Teeth that are wiggly or shifty

Gum Disease attacks the bones that hold your teeth in place, which can lead them to move or loosen. One of the biggest causes of wiggly or shifty teeth is periodontitis.

Common Causes of Gum Disease

   1. Plaque Buildup

Gum Disease’s most common cause is plaque buildup. It is a thick form of bacteria that forms on gums and teeth. Daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing can remove this buildup, although in some cases you might need to visit your family dentist to have the most stubborn parts of this plaque buildup removed.

   2. Smoking and Chewing Tobacco

Smoking is known to cause various health problems; one of them is making your mouth more vulnerable and sensitive to bacterial infections. This can also happen from chewing tobacco. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate these bad habits that can also cause you many health issues.

   3. Hormonal Changes for Females

Pregnancy and monthly menstrual cycles cause hormone fluctuation, which can lead to Gum Disease in some women. It is essential to take extra care of your teeth when pregnant as your gums might get inflamed, irritated, red, or even bleed a bit.

   4. Prescription Medications

Various prescription medicines can, as a side effect, leave our mouths dry with less saliva production and flow. This encourages the bacteria to spread, which can lead to Gum Disease.

   5. Crooked Teeth

A lot of people suffer from crooked teeth that overlap or rotate. Crooked teeth can lead to Gum Disease as misalignments between them create more spaces for the plaque to build up and cause harm to the teeth and gums.

Why Regular Dental Visits to the Dentist Are Important

Regular visits to your family dentist are important as the dentist can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. The dentist checks for your overall oral health and looks for any possible problems of which you might be unaware. Your dentist can remove plaque buildup with special instruments such as an ultrasound cleaner.

Gum Disease progresses silently, so you might not realize you even have it. Therefore, you must regularly visit the dentist as he/she can assess whether your mouth is free from gum-related health issues or not and take the necessary precautions if diagnosed.

Conclusion

Gum Disease can cause you to have sensitive teeth, bleeding, bad breath, wiggly teeth, and/or gums pulling away from the teeth. However, with regular visits to your family dentist, you can prevent this health problem from progressing further.

Woodshore Family Dentistry provides your family with comprehensive care from experienced dentists and well-trained staff. So, do you think you have Gum Disease? Has it been a long time since you last visited a dentist? Visit our website now to book an appointment with the best dentists in Texas!

"Woodshore Family Dentistry is privately owned by Dr. Vishal Pattni and Dr. Saumeen Desai. Both doctors have extensive experience in improving and customizing smiles. Please call the office at 979-341-9890 for a free consultation and smile evaluation."