How to Avoid Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is more common than you may think. Although it can be prevented with brushing, flossing, and proper care of your teeth, only a few people have completely problem-free teeth. 

Periodontal disease, also known as advanced gum disease, is not always detected early on. It tends to progress gradually until it becomes painful and very unpleasant to live with. Periodontal disease has been linked to many other health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or even stroke.

Fortunately, there are quite a few things to look for so that you can get dental care before it gets completely out of hand. It is also important to have good oral hygiene habits such as brushing after every meal and flossing daily. If you catch the disease early enough, you can actually reverse some of the damage or at least prevent it from progressing even more. 

One of the best ways to prevent periodontal disease from progressing is to simply know what to look for. That way if you notice that you are beginning to develop some of the symptoms you can pay a visit to your friendly Idaho Falls dentist such as Dr. Jordan Baker at Wellness BioDentistry and get it taken care of right away. The sooner, the better because you may be able to save your teeth.

Many people put off going to the dentist for some reason or other, but your dentist will be able to fix the problem so that you don’t have to live with oral pain. Your dentist in Idaho Falls will be able to reach below the gum line where a lot of the problems can be and get everything cleaned out. 

Brushing and flossing is a great method for preventing periodontal disease, but you will need your Idaho Falls dentist to take care of anything more serious and advanced.

There are many signs of gum disease, such as:

• Loose teeth
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
• Receding gums
• Swollen and red gums
• Bleeding gums 
• Changes in the way that your teeth come together
• Changes in the fit of partial dentures
• Pus surrounding the teeth and gums
• Sharp or dull pains when chewing
• Overly sensitive teeth to hot or cold foods

Some symptoms are more obvious than others, and you may have just one or a few of the symptoms. The key is to know what to look for because you are more likely to notice them. As with many different ailments, it is ideal to detect symptoms early on and to get them taken care of quickly. 

Everybody has bacteria in their mouths, but when there’s too much of it, it can be a problem. Bacteria that is in plaque is a colorless and sticky film that is always forming on your teeth. If it does not get removed and it turns into tartar, it will eventually cause gum disease. Tarter cannot be removed by brushing, and you will need to visit your dentist in Idaho Falls to get it removed. 

Certain activities and habits can also worsen periodontal disease, such as:

• Smoking
• Medical problems such as diabetes
• Plaque buildup 

Periodontal Disease Can Be Treated by Your Dentist

Periodontal disease has a few different phases. The first phase is gingivitis. This stage causes the gums to become inflamed and reddened. People who have gingivitis will typically have gums that appear to be “stippled” rather than pink and healthy. Gingivitis can be reversed by brushing and using floss, but you will need to visit your dentist in Idaho Falls to remove the offensive plaque built up on your teeth. 

Regular brushing will keep plaque away, but if it is already built up, you will need to get it removed by a professional. Your dentist will have all the tools to safely and effectively remove the plaque from your teeth. If you have gums that bleed easily when you brush or even when you touch your gums with your finger, you may have gingivitis. Since this is the earliest stage, the damage can be more easily reversed, since the bone and connective tissue has not yet been affected.

Periodontitis

The second stage of periodontal disease is known as periodontitis. It is a more advanced stage and will cause the gums to become loose around the teeth. Sometimes the gums will even shrink away from the teeth as well. This will cause pockets to form that will become the perfect hideout for food and plaque to build up. Once these pockets form and begin to fill up with food particles and plaque, different types of bacteria will begin to take over the mouth and will begin to cause damage. 

It may be necessary to have surgery done to help correct the problem if it has become too advanced. At this stage, the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place have already become damaged, and the damage is permanent. In order to treat the second stage, it is imperative to get treatment and therapy from your dentist in order to prevent further damage. It is also necessary to improve everyday hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing to prevent further damage.

Advanced Periodontitis

The third stage of peritonitis, also known as advanced periodontitis, is the stage where bone and fibers of your teeth have been destroyed. Chewing at this stage is painful, and you will need to get it fixed by a dentist. It may be necessary to have your teeth removed if they have been too damaged.

Treatment Options

There are a number of nonsurgical and surgical treatment options that you can get. Scaling, root planing, and antibiotics are a few procedures that you can get done. For more advanced periodontitis, you may need to get flap surgery, bone grafting, or soft tissue grafts. Your Idaho Falls dentist will go over the various treatment options with you and will help you to decide which one will be the best choice for you.

By simply brushing every day and taking the time to floss, you can avoid the pain and cost of periodontal disease. It is also beneficial to use antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash to help kill bacteria and to help prevent plaque buildup. It is also important to see your Idaho Falls dentist twice a year to keep your teeth nice and healthy.