At Alexis Dental in Belle River, we can detect the symptoms of gum disease and provide dental treatments to protect the health of our patients' gums.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is the inflammation and infection of the gums and the surrounding tissue. It is caused by plaque, a thin and colorless film that develops on your teeth. Left untreated, bacterial plaque will harden to form tartar. Tartar is a rough, yellow or brown buildup that forms at the gum line. This buildup can lead to loosening of the teeth, or cause the teeth to fall out in some cases.
Recognizing the symptoms and treating gum disease early on helps to prevent the condition from worsening.
Treating Gum Disease – Periodontic Treatments
To treat gum disease, we begin by scaling the teeth to remove plaque, and plane the roots to smooth them. We may prescribe antibiotics to clear up any infection or inflammation. Advanced cases may require surgical trimming of the gums, disinfecting of the tissue, removal of the hardened plaque build-up, and re-contouring of the damaged bone.
Symptoms
When diagnosing Gum Disease, the signs of gum disease we look for include:
- Red, inflamed gums
- Bleeding while brushing or flossing
- Receding gums
- Loose or separating teeth
- Presence of pus between the gum and tooth
- Prolonged bad breath
Because the symptoms are initially mild, many people don't realize they may have gum disease. You may have an increased risk for gum disease if you smoke, have diabetes, take certain medications, endure excessive stress, or don't eat a proper diet.
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