Maintaining good oral health is just as important as keeping the rest of your body healthy. Your mouth can develop diseases that need to be addressed as soon as they are noticed to help prevent further damage. This includes periodontal disease. Let’s take a close look at what periodontal disease is, if you can fix periodontal disease, and how a periodontist Rochester NY can help.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is also referred to as gum disease. It is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue in the mouth. It can also affect and destroy the bone that supports your teeth, leading to loose teeth or tooth loss.[1]
Gum disease has different stages, depending on how advanced the disease has become. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. Usually, with gingivitis, people don’t feel much pain but do have red, swollen, gums that bleed easily.[2] Poor dental hygiene, smoking, stress, diabetes, and other factors can contribute to gingivitis. If caught early enough, however, gingivitis can be reversed.
When gingivitis is not caught early enough or goes untreated, it can lead to periodontitis. This is a more severe form of gum disease that happens when plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. When this happens, the toxins produced by the bacteria in the mouth lead to a chronic inflammatory response. The tissues and bone that support the teeth begin to break down and the gums begin to separate from the teeth, forming spaces between the teeth and gums. These spaces between the gums and teeth can become infected, which can lead to loose teeth that need to be removed.
What are the Symptoms of Periodontal Disease?
Many times people don’t realize they have periodontal disease until it’s become advanced. Some symptoms to look out for include[3]:
- Red or swollen gums
- Bleeding while brushing and flossing
- Gums that are pulling away from the teeth
- Mouth sores
- Loose teeth
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Chronic bad breath
If you begin to notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a periodontist Rochester NY right away. This can help to prevent it from turning to more advanced periodontitis.
How Can You Prevent Periodontal Disease?
Preventing periodontal disease can be done by practicing good oral hygiene. This includes simple things like brushing your teeth well twice times a day. When you brush your teeth regularly it helps to remove food and plaque that can get trapped between your teeth and gums. Your tongue also holds bacteria, so don’t forget to brush it as well.
Flossing is also important to help prevent periodontal disease. Flossing helps to remove pieces of food and plaque between the teeth and along the gum line. Sometimes you can’t reach it all by brushing. That’s why flossing twice a day is crucial. Using mouthwash can also help to reduce plaque and remove remaining food particles.
Seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings can also help to prevent periodontal disease. They may notice problems that you may have missed and may refer you to a periodontist for special care. If you smoke, you may want to consider quitting since smokers are at a higher risk of developing gum disease.
How Can a Periodontist Rochester NY Help to Fix Periodontal Disease?
If you suspect you have periodontal disease, a periodontist can help to treat and fix it. After examining your mouth, your periodontist will determine the best course of action. If your periodontal disease has progressed to the point where your gum are separating from your teeth, special procedures will be required to fix the problem. These procedures help to clean the gum line and restore it to where it should be.
When you need a periodontist to treat and help fix periodontal disease, schedule an appointment at Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester. Dr. Zahavi has helped countless patients treat their periodontal disease. Call today to schedule an appointment. 585.685.2005
Sources:
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473
