Any kind of gum disease is a threat to your oral health and overall health. Bacterial diseases such as gum disease have been linked to larger diseases and illnesses including, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even cancer. Estimates are that at least 20% of Australians have at least moderate gum disease.
This is why Smiles Nambour works with our patients to halt, reverse, and treat gum disease at all stages.
Because gum disease can damage your oral and general health, detecting it early is a key step to treating it. With every checkup, we look for early warning signs to ensure your maximum dental and general health.
What Are The Stages Of Gum Disease?
Most commonly, gum disease is first revealed while it is still gingivitis, through bleeding gums while you are brushing or flossing your teeth. This is a symptom of gum inflammation. Other symptoms include swollen, tender, or red gum tissue. Unfortunately, these symptoms can be very subtle, which is one reason dental checkup every six months are so key to your health.
If gum disease is recognized early enough it can often be reversed by a more thorough cleaning routine at home. This cleaning routine can keep bacteria from causing plaque, calculus, and leading to periodontitis.
If left untreated gingivitis moves on to become periodontitis. In periodontitis, gum tissue and the bone structure that supports your teeth may be permanently damaged.
Symptoms of periodontitis include:
- Receding gums
- Enlarged gum pockets around your teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus appearing at the edge of your gums
- Changes in the way your teeth come together when you bite
- Loose teeth
Once a patient moves to the periodontitis stage, treatment by your Smiles Nambour dentist becomes necessary.
What Are The Causes Of Gum Disease?
Bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth, is the culprit in gum disease. If the plaque is not removed it can harden and turn into tartar (calculus). Additionally, dental plaque will continue to form on the tartar. This will eventually cause pockets between the teeth and gums, which are only more area for gum disease to take hold.
There are other causes of gum disease as well:
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Diet
- Hormonal shifts
- Genetic influences
Treating Gum Disease
Dutch classical scholar Desiderius Erasmus once sagely noted that, “Prevention is better than cure.” This approach is true for gum disease. Nothing treats a disease better than never having it!
The first line of prevention is at-home dental care. Make sure that your dental regimen is thorough and your techniques are good. Brush twice a day and floss at least once.
Make sure to visit your Smiles Nambour Dentist regularly.
Good dental hygiene and a visit to the dentist every six months can hold off gingivitis, and even reverse some cases.
If gum disease becomes serious, a trip to the dentist is a must! Depending on the level of the gum disease, your dentist might use deep cleaning (scaling and root planning), gum removal, or even a dental operation to stop the damage.
Avoid a serious problem by halting gum disease before it can advance!
Comprehensive Treatment for Gum Disease at Smiles Nambour
Your trusted dentist at Smiles Nambour can give you the advice and treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums healthy for your lifetime. Don’t let gum disease impact your life. Our comprehensive gum treatment helps restore the health and appearance of your gums, so you won’t anymore suffer from bleeding gums or bad breath.
For many years we have provided extraordinary dental care service to the Nambour community and surrounding regions.
Same Day Appointment Available, Request it Now! Call us today on (07) 5441 4438 or book your appointment online.