What is gum disease?
Gum disease raleigh north carolina is when your gums become swollen, inflamed, and sensitive. Overtime, this inflammation can lead to breakdown of the tissue and bones that help support your teeth. Gum disease is caused by an infection that is due to plaque, or bacteria, that builds up around the base of and between your teeth and eventually turns to an infection.
Gingivitis or gum disease?
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is a common condition experienced by many people. A sign of gingivitis is when your gums become red and swollen or even bleed after you brush your teeth. The good thing is that gingivitis is a reversible condition when you focus on keeping good oral hygiene. Over time plaque builds up on the teeth and develops into what is called tartar. The more time that plaque and tartar remain on the teeth the more harm they can cause. Tartar and plaque untreated can cause gingivitis to develop and progress. If gingivitis progresses to gum disease, it can cause permanent damage to the teeth, gums, and bones. Overtime, gum disease can progress so badly that teeth are no longer supported and become loose. Approximately 50% of Americans over the age of 30 have some mild form of gum disease.
Signs of Gum Disease
Unfortunately, it is hard to identify gum disease. The condition is usually painless, so many people are unaware that they have it. Here are some clear symptoms of gum disease to be aware of:
- Gums that bleed
- Gums that are red or inflamed
- Gums that are receding from the teeth
- Bad breath
- Change in your bite
If you have one or more of these symptoms it is important to start taking steps to improve the health of your mouth. This means taking steps to remove as much plaque as possible on a daily basis. Brushing and flossing daily is important to cleaning your teeth and cleaning between your teeth. Additionally, getting your teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months is a very important step to removing plaque and tartar.
Other risk factors for gum disease
Besides just practicing good oral hygiene, there are other important behaviors that can affect your oral health, including managing your overall health. Other factors that impact your risk of gum disease include smoking, chewing tobacco, genetics, pregnancy, and medication use.
The most important thing to remember about gum disease is that the signs and symptoms are a perfect warning sign to notify you to start taking better care of your oral hygiene. Start scheduling regular visits to the dentist and have a discussion about how you can stop the progression of your gum disease. Make sure you are brushing your teeth thoroughly at least two times daily. But also remember that brushing is not enough, flossing is really one of the most effective ways to make sure food particles are not stuck between your teeth in places that your brush cannot reach. Also, flossing removes plaque, which you may not be able to see.
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