Your gums require as much attention as your teeth. Proper brushing, flossing, a healthy diet, and regular check-ups with your dentist at Lakemoor Dental in Elk Grove Village, IL, are all key to vibrant oral health, largely because they help prevent periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in the US. If you had periodontal disease, would you know? Read on to learn the details about this potentially catastrophic condition.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the soft tissues surrounding your teeth and covering the alveolar ridge of the jaw bone. Nourishing and supporting your teeth, your gums suffer inflammation and recession when oral bacteria collects in excessive plaque and tartar.
As the infection escalates, gums shrink and pull away from tooth surfaces. Bacteria continue on their destructive path to the underlying bone and even spread systemically through the bloodstream. Problems such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and more often result from the condition.
Here's what you or your dentist in Elk Grove Village, IL, may notice:
- Bleeding when flossing or brushing
- Bad breath which does not respond to mouthwash
- Less gum tissue
- Pus at the gum line
- Reddened gums
- Soreness
- Pain in areas of the mouth other than the gums
- Sensitivity when eating
- Mobile teeth
- Altered dental bite
What can you do about periodontitis?
If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist will likely advise a deep cleaning and root planing to remove toxic plaque and tartar and to apply antimicrobial medication to gum pockets, the spaces between soft tissue and tooth roots. In the vast majority of cases, these treatments, along with a diligent program of in-office and at-home maintenance, improves the health of gum tissue and avoids bone and tooth loss.
If you have more severe periodontal issues, you may require oral surgery to graft new tissue to the overexposed areas of bones and roots. Your dentist will formulate a treatment plan to address these serious issues and get your mouthy healthy once again.
Healthy gums and a healthy smile
Achieve both with the help of the team at Lakemoor Dental. We have 10 dentists and an extremely helpful support staff serving our four locations. For the Lakemoor office, dial (815) 363-8888, for Hainesville, dial (847) 986-6300, for Arlington Heights, dial (847) 744-6240, and for Elk Grove Village, dial (847) 744-6240.