A common misconception about oral health is that it only involves caring for teeth. This is false and something your Garden Ridge dentist wants to draw attention to. When it comes to your oral health, it all begins with the health of your gums. If your gums are sore, inflamed, or bleed when you brush your teeth, you may be experiencing gum disease symptoms such as gingivitis. When left untreated, this early stage of periodontal disease can get worse resulting in more invasive treatment options.
What Exactly is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease occurs in different stages with the first being gingivitis or inflammation of your gums that makes them tender and sore. If you wait too long to see your Garden Ridge family dentist for treatment, it can develop into periodontitis which is the advanced stage of the disease. When this occurs, a same-day dental appointment is not a bad idea as prolonging your visit to your Garden Ridge dentist will result in receding gums which, in turn, loosens your teeth from the foundation. From there, the loss of teeth is experienced.
Beyond the health of your mouth, your oral health can affect your overall health. Tooth loss can leave a gap in your gums which increases your risk of getting an infection. When gum disease symptoms go ignored and an infection develops, you run the risk of that infection traveling into your bloodstream and spreading to other organs which can lead to serious problems such as sepsis and heart disease.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
It’s less-than-ideal to think about but our mouths are a cesspool of bacteria. This is why it’s imperative that you brush twice a day, floss, and have regular check-ups with your Garden Ridge family dentist to maintain good oral health. The fact is, poor oral hygiene is one of the major causes of periodontal disease with other contributing factors being smoking, genetics, certain medications, a compromised immune system, and hormone fluctuations.
Preventing Periodontal Disease
If you’re in the early stages of the disease and experiencing gingivitis, your Garden Ridge dentist can stop it from progressing and reverse the damage with non-surgical gum treatments. At Garden Ridge Center for Dentistry, we offer same-day dental appointments that will allow you to begin treatment at the first sign of the disease. Once you’ve been treated by your preferred Garden Ridge dentist “near me”, you can maintain your oral health by eating a healthy diet and managing stress.
Should you be in the advanced stages of periodontal disease, your Garden Ridge family dentist may have to perform more invasive treatments such as a deep cleaning called scaling and planning that targets the roots of your teeth. Before you reach this point, schedule a same-day dental appointment to begin your non-surgical gum treatments as quickly as possible.
Your oral health is more than just preserving and enhancing your smile. Protecting your oral health can benefit your overall health and well-being and give your immune system a fighting chance against any other disease that may invade your body. If you’re experiencing any stage of periodontal disease or are in need of any of our dental services, contact the team at Garden Ridge Center for Dentistry to schedule your appointment today at 210.651.5100!
