Could You Be Making Gum Disease Worse?

Not everything you do has an obvious impact on your oral health, but when you experience a condition like gum disease, even seemingly harmless things can affect the disease’s progression. For patients in Encinitas/San Diego who suffer from gum disease, recognizing and controlling these influences is paramount to protecting their long-term oral health. Today, we examine what you may be doing to unwittingly exacerbate your gum disease, and how you can address them to improve your oral and periodontal health.

What to know about gum disease

Gum disease is a progressive disease, and many patients don’t realize when the earliest stage (gingivitis) develops. As the result of an infection in your gums, caused by excessive oral bacteria, gingivitis marks the beginning of your gums’ erosion. As it gets worse, the damage grows more severe, and over time, it can lead to more severe concerns such as tooth loss.

How you might be exacerbating it

Inadequate hygiene is one of the biggest reasons why gingivitis develops and grows worse. If you don’t brush your teeth at least twice every day and floss at least once, then oral bacteria can accumulate on and underneath your gums unimpeded. Also, if you smoke or chew tobacco, don’t attend regular dental cleanings, or ignore the warning signs of gingivitis, then your gum disease will progress at an accelerated rate.

What you can do now

If you do notice signs of gingivitis, then seek treatment for your gum disease as soon as possible. If you’ve already been diagnosed, then be sure to stick to your periodontist’s instructions for at-home care closely and consistently. Advanced treatments such as laser periodontal care (LANAP), gum grafting, and more may be able to help restore your good periodontal health in addition to controlling gum disease’s progression.

Stop making your gum disease worse

It might be too late to prevent gum disease, but you can treat it and stop making it worse with specialized treatment. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.