Prompt Gum Treatment Can Save Your Smile [BLOG]
Here’s a staggering fact: most Americans will likely encounter some level of gum disease over the course of a lifetime. And if not promptly detected and treated by an oral health professional, this infection can lead to tooth loss and can even contribute to major problems elsewhere in the body. Fortunately, here at Dores Dental in East Longmeadow, MA, our team can provide safe and effective solutions for your gum problems. Keep reading to hear more about our gum treatment possibilities, and then give us a call at 413-241-3995 to request an easy appointment.
An All Too Common Problem
The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and is fairly easy to treat. It is marked by swollen, bloody, or off-color gums. Since it is caused by bacteria that gets trapped beneath the gum-line, usually, a thorough dental cleaning from our team removes every trace of bacteria-bearing plaque and is thus sufficient enough to stop the damage and allow the gums to heal. However, plaque begins to reform within 24 hours after being removed, which is why regular thorough brushing and flossing, along with regular dental cleanings and examinations, are so essential.
From Bad To Worse
If gingivitis has not been spotted by a dentist, and is therefore left untreated, it usually progresses to the more advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis. That stage won’t be fun for anyone involved. This is when the gums can start to pull away from the teeth, allowing more disease-causing bacteria to reach below the gumline. Deep pockets of infection can form, which results in chronic bad breath and worse. The infection will also lead to your teeth becoming loose and even being lost.
As we already alluded to, advanced gum disease has also been linked to a wide variety of serious health conditions like the following:
- Heart Disease
- Respiratory Problems
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Intestinal Issues
While these are correlations, rather than causal relationships, gum disease is nothing to take lightly. As such, you will need to keep up with your regular appointments, and make sure that you don’t ever let any instance of gum disease go untreated. The sooner the disease is dealt with, the less chance you run of developing serious long-term problems in your mouth and other bodily systems.
Gum Treatment Is Available
For advanced cases, Dores Dental offers gum treatment in two forms:
- Scaling And Root Planing: Scaling is a deep-cleaning procedure, often performed under local anesthesia, during which Dr. Dores uses modern instruments to carefully scrape away plaque and tartar. Ultimately, this deep cleaning addresses problem areas situated above and below the gum-line.
- Antibiotic Treatment: To help guard against future gum infections, Dr. Dores will place a time-release antibiotic called Arestin® beneath your gum line.
Don’t Hesitate To Call
We hope you are ready to take preventive action. If you’re already seeing any signs of gum disease, call our East Longmeadow, MA dental office today at 413-241-3995 or fill out our online form to request your gum treatment appointment with us.
