A vast majority of the people suffer from gum disease and they are not quite aware of it.
For those who are not aware, gum disease as we know it is typically the inflammation of the gums. Usually by the plaque and bacteria that buildup along the gums and inside the pockets that can form between them and the teeth.
Here in this article we seek to inform you all about what this disease entails, together with how to fight it. Failing to treat gum disease can result in heavy damage to the bone that ends up with tooth loss. So brace your toothbrush, because the sooner you treat it, the better!
What are the stages of gum disease?
Now to the stages of the disease itself, we can point four: gingivitis, early periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the initial stage, and it is so dangerous because of how easy it is to overlook it. This stage results in inflammation of the gums due plaque buildup at the gums. Your dentist will typically poke your gums with a special tool to check just how swollen they are. Healthy gums will have a normal pocket depth of about 1 to 2 millimeters. Gingivitis has about 2 to 4 millimeters deep pockets.
At this stage gingivitis is pretty easy to treat, but if it is not, it gives way to early periodontitis.
Early periodontitis
Early periodontitis is when the teeth are surrounded by the inflamed gum tissue. Typically the pocket depth in these cases are 4 to 5 millimeters deep. At this stage it is even more easy to bleed through brushing, your gums start to recede, and an early stage of bone loss happens.
It is recommended to get in-depth cleanings performed by a dentist. Scaling and root planning is usually the treatments that our Los Algodones dentists recommend, where all the buildup tartar is removed and the surfaces cleaned.
Moderate periodontitis
Moderate periodontitis comes next if the patient keeps neglecting their oral health. At this stage there are bigger pockets of about 6 to 7 millimeters deep. As the name says, there is also a moderate loss of bone, more receding of the gums, and infections can even develop pus. If the periodontitis keeps developing, the teeth start losing their natural support so tooth loss is not a rare develop.
Advanced periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis is the final stage. The pockets here are deeper than 7 millimeters. Typically once the patient reaches this, the bone tissue, gum tissue and ligaments are all greatly damaged. This in turn is very problematic as not only are your teeth prone to shift and loosen, it also modifies your bite, and ultimately lead to tooth loss. Of course, advanced periodontitis is accompanied with a very foul breath, pain when chewing, and tooth decay.
How do you prevent gum disease?
To prevent gum disease from happening it is of utmost important to control plaque buildup. This requires of a good oral hygiene to actively deal with all the chances the bacteria has before they even start.
Usually you will want to keep a number of things in mind:
- Make sure to brush your teeth before you head to sleep and after you wake up. This will stop the bacteria from acting in the 6 to 8 hours you sleep.
- Floss daily to remove all plaque that might be stored in between your teeth.
- Make sure you have a balanced diet. Not only is providing your body the right nutrients, also keeping a watch of how much sugar and starch you consume is important.
- Avoid cigarette and tobacco products, as they are one of the major reasons.
- It is recommended to get a dental checkup at least every six months, together with the professional cleaning.
If you are interested getting cheap treatments and procedures, feel free to contact us to get in touch with the best dentists in Los Algodones.
