Did you know that gum disease comes in stages? Some may not know to ask the dentist or hygienist about their gum health, but it can affect the cleaning methods used as well as your general health status. To find out more about the various gum disease stages and the corresponding cleaning practices, read on.
No Gum Disease Noted
This is, of course, the hoped-for goal of dental treatment. When the dental professional uses a floss, there should be no bleeding indicative of gum irritation. Additionally, the gums should be pink with no white pockets or swelling.
Gingivitis
This first stage of gum disease is often characterized by a bit of bleeding upon flossing and some reddening of the gums near the tooth. It is an infection in its early stage, which means more attention should be paid to the frequency and motions of brushing and flossing.
Periodontal Disease
When gingivitis is not treated, it progresses to periodontal disease. Gums are not only prone to bleed when flossed but they may be receding away from the tooth. This can expose the root of the tooth and cause pain and more inflammation. Often, periodontal disease is addressed with a deeper cleaning and a tooth scaling.
Periodontitis
All teeth have pockets above and below them in the gum that act as air cushions to the roots and bone of the jaw. When those pockets become inflamed, the periodontitis can affect your entire body. This the most serious stage of gum disease and could cause problems with several body systems, such as the cardiovascular and autoimmune systems. It could also cause complications with diabetes.
Unfortunately, gums in the later stages of disease may be beyond treatment to bring them back to a normal state of health. You cannot regrow the bones of your jaw when the disease begins to break it down. Surgical intervention may be necessary to prevent further damage to your bones thought the use of bone grafts. Additionally, you may require multiple scale and root plan procedures just to prevent more damage to your gums and teeth.
Gum disease can be a complicated issue once it progresses past the initial stages. It can be caused or made worse by plaque, medications, other diseases, chemical exposure, and even hormones. This issue must be monitored just as closely as your blood pressure. Speak to your dentist today about keeping your mouth free of the scrounge of dental disease. When your dentist gives you advice about gum care, try this out at home to increase the health of your gums.
Share6 August 2019
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
