When you use cigarettes, or other tobacco products, this could expose your gingival tissues to harmful chemicals that worsen the severity of your inflammation or periodontal disease, increasing the risk of the late stage connected to tooth loss. These same chemicals can also increase your risk of developing cancers in the mouth, throat, and lungs. Simply put, using these products at a minimum harms your oral health, and could also put your very life on the line. Which is why we urge you to quit smoking right away.
How do you know if you have a risk of the disease? Risk factors include a family history of periodontal disease, as well as the presence of inflammatory disease, the use of certain medications, or lack of good oral hygiene habits, including brushing and flossing or visits for dental cleanings. You could begin to notice symptoms like a redness in your gums, soreness, or bleeding when you brush and floss. At this stage, you should see us right away. Our team can examine your gingival tissues to see if you have gingivitis, which can be reversed with timely intervention, or if you have periodontal disease. While the disease cannot be cured, we can use treatment to manage it and keep the latest stage, periodontitis, at bay, so you avoid the risk of tooth loss and worsening symptoms.
Our team offers a full array of treatment options, many of which can intervene in the late stages to keep your smile healthy and whole. For more minor cases, we could prescribe a scaling and root planing to remove harmful buildup from the teeth and roots, or antibiotic treatment to fight the disease. We also have pinhole gum grafts and other treatments that employ dental lasers to remove diseased tissues or address receding gums to prevent the onset of tooth loss.
If you have any questions about treating periodontal disease, or about quitting smoking, then contact our team today to learn more. We want you and your family to maintain strong and healthy gums for years to come!
Our team wants to help you safeguard your smile and lower your cancer risk. If you would like to find out more about keeping your gingival tissues strong or quitting smoking, call Dr. Kania’s office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.
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