One of the main reasons dentists recommend brushing your teeth and flossing your mouth is to prevent bacteria accumulation. Accumulated bacteria develop due to food remnants in your mouth. Bacteria and food remnants interact to form plaque. Failure to brush your teeth causes the hardening of plaque into tartar. Tartar is immune to regular brushing and relies on professional cleaning. Patients with plaque and tartar risk developing periodontal diseases that require San Antonio emergency dentistry protocols to prevent the development of severities.
Main types of periodontal disease
There are many diseases affecting the gums. The two popular gum diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis. Understanding the details of these diseases can assist in accurate diagnosis and ensure you receive the right treatment to address your symptoms.
Gingivitis is gum inflammation. This disease precedes periodontitis. Plaque buildup increases gum sensitivity and is the reason for inflammation. Patients with gingivitis experience gum bleeding when brushing their teeth. Gum irritation affecting gingivitis patients is reversible. Addressing gingivitis in its initial stages prevents its advancement into periodontitis. The only way to reverse gingivitis’s effects is to brush your teeth and floss your mouth regularly to eliminate bacteria buildup. Dentists also recommend attending regular dental checkups and cleanings to fix your gingivitis concerns.
Periodontitis is the result of untreated gum inflammation. This advanced stage of gingivitis causes gums to pull away from teeth forming deep pockets and increasing the risk of infection. Failure to seek emergency intervention causes the breakdown of bones and connective tissue supporting teeth. The deepening of gum pockets around teeth promotes the destruction of underlying bone and connective tissue, thus causing teeth to loosen, increasing the risk of tooth loss.
What causes gum disease?
Plaque buildup, resulting from improper dental hygiene, is the main cause of gum complications. The following risk factors also contribute to gum disease;
- Hormonal changes: This risk factor is common in pregnant women and patients undergoing puberty, menopause, and menstruation. Various hormones increase gum sensitivity allowing gingivitis formation.
- Underlying chronic illnesses: Various health conditions like cancer or HIV suppress your immunity allowing infections into your oral structure, thus predisposing you to periodontal disease and cavities.
- Medicines: Certain treatments can affect oral health, specifically those causing dry mouth. Medications cause lesser saliva production, accelerating the bacteria effect on teeth and gums.
- Smoking: This destructive habit hinders gum tissue repair.
- Genetics: A family history of dental disease predisposes you to develop gingivitis.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Learning about the typical symptoms of gum disease is critical to help you make early self-diagnosis. An early gum disease diagnosis necessitates urgent intervention to prevent the development of irreversible side effects. Most patients with gum disease experience the following:
- Bleeding gums after brushing
- Gum redness and swelling
- Bad breath
- Receding gums
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Deep pockets between teeth and gums
- Loose teeth
- Bite changes
Failure to experience the symptoms mentioned above does not mean that you do not have some degree of gum disease. Attending regular dental checkups is the only way to be sure about your oral health status. Contact AB Dental & Oral Surgery to schedule dental checkups and reveal the cause of your gum complications.