Dentists may appear to spend all their time inspecting and treating teeth, but the truth is, a large percentage of their time is devoted to that critical supporting structure for the teeth: the gums. Gum disease treatment is an essential part of maintaining great overall oral health, and sadly, many people need some form of treatment and are unaware of it. That’s because the noticeable symptoms of gum disease often don’t crop up until an infection has already taken root in the gums and progressed to an advanced stage. Fighting gum disease effectively is a matter of getting the help of your dentist long before you actually notice that something seems to be wrong.
Proactive Gum Disease Treatment
Gingivitis, the most common type of gum disease, is very common and often without obvious symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not dangerous—without effective gum disease treatment, gingivitis can quickly progress to periodontitis, which quickly causes irreversible damage to the gums and the teeth that depend on them for their strength and health. And while most people are aware of the biggest factor leading to gingivitis—food and other particles left in contact with the gums for too long—there are other factors as well. Diseases like diabetes weaken the defenses of the gums, making it easier for even people with good oral hygiene habits to develop an infection. Age is another very important factor, making it critical for elderly folks to have regular visits with their dentist to address any early signs of infection.
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“Minor” Gum Issues
When it comes to problems with your gums, there are really no “minor” problems. The gums are amazingly resilient and durable, but when you do start to notice seemingly small issues with them, that’s an indication that a gum disease is well on its way to causing severe oral health problems, including irreparable damage to teeth and eventual extraction. Some of the most common symptoms include bleeding during brushing teeth or flossing, which indicate that the gums are in a weakened state and unable to withstand normal activity. Another common symptom is constant bad breath. More than just unpleasant for those around you, this issue can be a result of an infection growing inside the gums, eating away at vital tissue. If you notice that your teeth look or feel like they are shifting in position, moving toward or away from one another, that’s an indication that your gums are becoming too weak to hold the teeth in place. Of course, more serious symptoms also call for an immediate call to your dentist. If you can tell that your gums are swollen and red, or if they are causing you pain, you urgently need an appointment to mitigate the infection and start on the road back to good oral health. Any of these problems should prompt you to make an appointment with your trusted Raleigh dentist as soon as possible.
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What Can Happen?
The consequences of ignoring the seemingly early, minor symptoms of gum disease are severe. Once the teeth become loosened or damaged from the inside past a certain point, there is nothing that your dentist can do to save them. Extracting “dead” teeth and building customized bridges or dentures can restore your smile’s appearance and help your mouth function normally, but these solutions will simply never match the natural perfection of your teeth and gums working together in a state of good oral health.
The good news, though, is that with regular visits to a great dentist with a great supporting team, you are in a great position to ward off gum disease, even if it does begin to develop, before it advances to the point of causing major damage to your gums and teeth. At New Hope Dental Care, we have been providing this type of preventative oral health care for families in the greater Raleigh area for a long time. We hope that you will bring your family in to meet us and take care of their beautiful smiles for many years to come!