Periodontal Treatment & Prevention
Your oral health involves more than just your teeth. It also includes periodontal health, which refers to your gums. Many people don’t realize that it’s important to protect and maintain the health of your gums.
It isn’t difficult to care for your gums, and you do most of the work when you perform daily brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash.
The importance of maintaining periodontal health
Taking care of your teeth and gums is the only way to prevent periodontal diseases. Periodontal health is also closely related to the overall health of a person.
How you take care of your teeth and gums can prevent various diseases that might first affect your oral health, but that will ultimately lead to other health conditions.
Here are some of the things that can lead to poor periodontal health and result in tooth and gum disease:
Tartar buildup
Tartar or calculus buildup results from food deposits and plaque deposits going unattended. Tartar can build up enough to become extremely hard and is difficult to remove. You’re putting yourself at high risk for gum disease when this happens.
Plaque buildup
Dental plaque is caused by sugary, starchy, or acidic foods and drinks and can occur due to not brushing and flossing regularly.
Essentially, dental plaque is a group of bacteria that forms and attaches to the surfaces of your teeth and feeds off of them. Left untended, plaque can lead to tartar and eventually to periodontal disease.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and isn’t overly serious in itself but can lead to serious issues if left untreated. Gingivitis occurs when dental plaque or tartar is left untreated and causes your gums to get red, puffy, and inflamed.
Gingivitis will eventually result in more serious gum disease and tooth decay if you don’t receive help from a dentist.
Signs and symptoms of poor periodontal health
Luckily, there are signs and symptoms that you can watch out for regarding your periodontal health. Gum disease is a slow process that doesn’t happen overnight, and if you catch issues before they progress too far, you can avoid serious gum diseases.
Red or inflamed gums
If you look in the mirror to inspect your teeth and notice that your gums are red or inflamed, it could indicate periodontal problems.
Unusually bad breath
One of the telltale signs of gingivitis and gum disease is terrible breath. You can get bad breath from ingesting certain foods and drinks, but gum disease will lead to unusually bad breath.
Bleeding when you brush or floss or eat certain foods
Brushing and flossing will stress your teeth and gums, and if you do them too roughly, it can result in bleeding. If you notice that your gums are bleeding after a gentle brush or floss, it could be an indicator of periodontal problems.
Loose teeth
Loose teeth are a more advanced sign of periodontal issues. When the gum disease has progressed to the point where you lose teeth or have loose teeth, you should see a dentist immediately.
Book an Appointment with Lurie Dental in Delray Beach
If you or someone you know has any of the above symptoms, you should immediately see a dentist.
If you’re in the Delray Beach area and are concerned about your periodontal health, look no further than Lurie Dental!