Stemming The Effects Of Gum Disease

Dentist Blog

You may have recently been diagnosed with gum disease if you are reading this article. Are the effects severe, and what can be done? This article will help you understand the severity of the condition.

What Happens with Gum Disease?

Gum disease starts as a mild inflammation of the gums. Its effects can be life threatening if the infection enters the blood system, but this is rarer than the other effects of inflammation. Usually, it simply leads to advanced dental issues, with the structures of the underlying teeth continuing to decay. Its risk factors include poor dental hygiene, poor diet, a compromised immune system, and smoking habits.

What Are the Negative Effects of Gum Disease

Gum disease has many bad effects. The infection degrades the quality of your bone mass locally. It can affect the attachment of teeth to the jaw, eventually leading to tooth loss. It causes bad breath. But gum disease has also been shown to be linked to heart disease and preterm births. The earlier you can correct gum disease, the better; it's especially important to act before you start to lose teeth over this infection.

What Types of Dental Procedures Are Needed?

The types of treatments your dentist will suggest depends on the stage of dental damage you have. The first order of business will be to clear up infection. A lingering infection in your gums is actually quite dangerous. There may be antibiotics used temporarily, and your dentist will encourage you to fortify your immune system with a healthy diet, exercise, good sleep practices, and perhaps some vitamin supplements.

The next phase of treatment is to treat the infected gums and get them healthy again. Treatment for gingivitis is usually a deep clean that attempts to remove tartar from below the gum line. Aside from that, you can play a role in your own treatment by having excellent brushing and flossing habits after your treatment. Your dentist may give you equipment, such as a water flosser, that makes it easier to do a complete job of removing plaque even when you're in a hurry.

If tooth loss has occurred, your dentist will probably want to get your gums health again before they start replacing teeth. That is because dental implants rely on gum and bone tissue to support them. Gum disease erodes both structures. Your dentist will be monitoring the outcomes of your gum disease treatment so that they can decide when to proceed with dental implant surgery. For more information, talk to a company like The Center For Oral & Facial Surgery at Anthem.

Share

27 July 2017