Periodontal disease could develop in smiles of adults of all ages, and without treatment, could not only cause soreness and bleeding, but lead to issues like tooth loss and a greater risk of inflammatory illnesses. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about recognizing and treating gum disease.
The Common Factors Behind Periodontal Disease
The issue often starts when your gums become inflamed, which is referred to as gingivitis. You could develop this when the gums become irritated and inflamed. Factors could include tobacco use, poor brushing and flossing habits, a diet high in sugar and starch, a family history of the disease, or the presence of inflammatory illnesses. Certain medications could be factors too. You initially experience sore and red gums, which could begin to bleed easily as the inflammation increases in severity. Periodontal disease begins once the gums pull from the teeth to form pockets at the gum line. Disease-causing bacteria enter these, leading to trouble!
Symptoms and Long-Term Complications
As we mentioned above, initially you could notice your gums appear red, feel sore, and bleed easily. But as the issue progresses, you could also experience swelling or even recession. With receding gums, the tissues pull away and expose portions of the roots not protected by enamel, causing tooth decay and infection. This also means an increased risk of the periodontitis stage, in which the tissues connecting your teeth and gums are severed, causing tooth loss. You could also have a higher risk of developing inflammatory illnesses too. Be sure to contact our team for an appointment at the first signs of trouble!
Starting Your Treatment
We want to help you avoid the dangers of periodontal disease, which is why we offer a range of treatment options. We could manage it in the early stages with a scaling and root planing, followed by preventive and holistic care to manage it afterward. If you have a more advanced stage of the disease, we could help with laser dentistry, in which we use advanced dental lasers to gently trim away the diseased portions and reshape the gum line, destroying harmful oral bacteria in the process. If you have any questions about how our team will safeguard your smile with periodontic care, including the use of advanced dental lasers, then contact our team today. We want to help you avoid the dangers of periodontal disease, so reach out soon!
Schedule Your Appointment for Periodontic Care
Our team is ready to help you smile without discomfort, and to avoid the long-term complications of periodontal disease, so your smile stays whole and beautiful! To learn more about recognizing and treating issues like periodontal disease, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.