When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile and mouth, it isn’t just dental decay that we need to worry about. Gum disease is one of the biggest threats to our oral health and you may be suffering from it without even realizing it. This is because the early symptoms of gum disease are easily overlooked or ignored. Nevertheless, if you notice that your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, or if they look red and swollen, you could have the initial stages of gum disease and should be seen by your dentist.

Identifying gum disease in its earliest stages is very important for two reasons. Firstly, if it is allowed to progress, it can have some very serious consequences for your teeth and mouth. As it becomes more advanced, patients suffer from bad breath, abscesses, receding gums, tooth loss and even deterioration of the jaw bone. Research has also found that patients who have gum disease could also be at greater risk of developing general conditions relating to their health and wellbeing, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Some cancers have also been linked to poor oral health and advanced stage gum disease.

The good news is that if caught early, gum disease is reversible. Here’s how.

 

Improve Your Oral Hygiene Routine

One of the easiest ways to deal with early gum disease is to dramatically improve your oral hygiene. Many of us are guilty of not brushing for as long as we should, or paying close enough attention to the technique we use. However, this can cause areas of plaque to develop which can then lead to gum disease. You should be brushing twice each day for at least two minutes, ideally using a small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Pay close attention to the area where the teeth meet the gums as this is where the plaque is most likely to accumulate.

 

Have Professional Dental Cleanings

Although your twice-daily brushing sessions are absolutely crucial for reversing and then preventing gum disease, you will also benefit from professional dental cleans. These are carried out by your dentist or hygienist who has special tools to make sure that every tiny gap and crevice is thoroughly cleaned. If plaque is allowed to persist without being cleaned away, it can also harden into calculus which can only be removed professionally.

 

Don’t Forget to Floss

Flossing may seem awkward and cumbersome, but with practice, it can slot into your daily evening brushing routine with ease. Flossing is essential for removing any plaque and bacteria from between the teeth, where a conventional toothbrush cannot reach. If you cannot get on with floss string, consider a floss pick or water flosser instead. A floss pick has a handle that makes it easier to use, whilst a water flosser uses high energy jets of water to push out any debris from between the teeth.

 

Treatment for Gum Restoration

If you reach a stage of gum disease where your gums have started to recede, it may be possible to restore them thanks to a number of different treatments that may be available from your dentist. These are:

• Scaling and root planing. This process involves lifting the gum away from the teeth to clean away any plaque that has formed below the gum line. It will also help the gum to successfully reattach to the teeth.

• Chao Pinhole Technique. This is where a small hole is inserted in the gum tissue to manipulate is so that it covers back over where it had previously receded. Chao Pinhole technique is fairly new and therefore not offered by all dentists.

• Gum grafting. This is where tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or another part of your body and grafted onto the area of the gums where the tissue has receded away.

If you are concerned about gum disease, don’t delay in seeking the advice and support of a professional. Please contact our experienced and knowledgeable dental team by calling our offices in Corunna, MI today.