When you develop periodontal disease, you join the estimated half of all adults over the age of 30 in the United States. Without treatment, the disease can worsen with time and reach a stage that leads to tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about how the disease impacts your gum health.
The Causes of Periodontal Disease
The disease begins with initial inflammation, also known as gingivitis. This can be due to factors that irritate and inflame the gum tissues. For example, lack of proper brushing and flossing, and a diet high in sugar and starch, can create plaque buildup that inflames the gum tissues. A family history of the disease, the use of certain medications, tobacco use, and inflammatory illnesses are also common factors. As the inflammation increases in severity with time, tissues could pull away from the teeth and form pockets at the gum line, which disease-causing bacteria will enter. You now have gum disease, which cannot be cured, but can be managed to help you avoid complications like tooth loss!
The Common Warning Signs
Warning signs could include sore, red gums that bleed easily, or even swelling. The tissue could also begin to recede, which means pulling back to expose sensitive portions of the roots. The teeth then appear long and uneven. When you experience one or more of these warning signs, let us know right away! Over time, symptoms can worsen and eventually you may reach the periodontitis stage of the disease. At this stage, the tissue connecting your teeth and gums become severed, so you lose your teeth. Missing teeth then compromise the strength and stability of your jaw and facial structure, and can complicate multiple facets of your daily life.
Treating Your Gums
Our team will start treatment with an initial consultation, during which we examine the smile for signs of trouble. Our team then assess the cause and extent of your periodontal issues, so we can create a unique treatment plan. For minor cases, we have holistic treatments like Ozone Therapy, Supportive Periodontal Maintenance, and deep cleanings, to manage the issue. In the more advanced stages, we can use laser dentistry and treatments like the Pinhole Surgical Technique to correct recession and remove diseased portions of gums, reshaping your gum line in the process. If you have any questions about how periodontal disease impacts your gum health, or if you need treatment, then reach out to our team today.
Talk to Dr. Kania About Treating Periodontal Issues
We would like to help you enjoy good oral health by preventing or managing your gum concerns. To learn more about managing issues that threaten the stability of your smile or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.