When thinking about your smile health, how much consideration do you give your gums? While it is common for your teeth to get all the attention, your gums should never be ignored. After all, your gums are the support system of your smile and the foundation of your oral health.
When the gums get infected or diseased, the health of your entire body is at risk. Did you know that gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature births? Advanced periodontal disease is also the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. The good news is that gum disease is easily reversed at its early stages. However, recognizing its symptoms and seeing your dentist on a regular basis are critical if you want to avoid the consequences of advanced gum disease.
The Shocking Prevalence of Gum Disease
Gum disease is not reserved for smokers or those who rarely brush and floss. You may be surprised at just how common periodontal disease is throughout our country.
The CDC’s lists the following gum disease statistics:
- Over 47 percent of adults in the United States, ages 30 and older, have some form of periodontal disease.
- About 30 percent of adults have moderate gum disease.
- Approximately 8.5 percent of adults have severe gum disease.
- Over 70 percent of older adults, 65 and older, have some form of periodontal disease.
- More than 56 percent of men and 38 percent of women have periodontal disease.
- Nearly 65 percent of current smokers have periodontal disease.
Smoking, consuming too much alcohol and a family history of periodontal disease are the largest risk factors for gum disease, but no one is excluded from this serious oral health condition. Can you recognize the signs of early gum disease on your own?
Symptoms and Causes of Gum Disease
Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of gum disease. When plaque and bacteria are allowed to accumulate along the gum line and tooth roots, the gums become irritated or inflamed. This is known as the first stage of gum disease, or gingivitis. Left untreated, the plaque can harden trigger an infection within the soft tissues. At this stage, the gums may start to recede and pull away from the tooth roots. This causes deep pockets of gum tissue to form, which can harbor even more bacteria. At its most advanced stages, gum disease attacks the surrounding bone and compromises the stability of the teeth.
Considering the alarming progression of gum disease, it is critical that patients are aware of its early symptoms. Grateful Dental recognizes the importance of educating patients on the following warning signs of gum disease so that they can receive the most conservative and successful treatment possible:
- Receding gums or deep pocket depth
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing
- Loose teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Changes in your bite
An Easy Way to Avoid Serious Gum Disease
Since gum disease is a progressive infection, there is typically time for you (and your dentist) to catch it before it hits an advanced stage. This works only if you are seeing your dentist on the recommended six-month schedule. If you go to the dentist regularly for a checkup and cleaning, they will be able to see signs of gingivitis forming and provide any additional treatment needed to remove tartar and eliminate gum disease. Unfortunately, a large majority of patients fail to get the dental treatment they need to reduce or stop gingivitis from getting worse. Statistics report that over half of Americans say they will see a dentist in the next year, but nearly a quarter of them have seen one in the previous year.
A routine dental checkup may be an easy appointment to skip, but it could save you from tooth loss and devastating threats to your body health. The infection can travel through your bloodstream to affect your heart and other systems of your overall health.
Call Grateful Dental Today!
Grateful Dental in Marietta proudly offers a full menu of gum disease treatments, ranging from deep cleanings using ultrasonic scaling to laser gum therapy to reverse more advanced stages. If gum disease has caused you to lose one or more teeth, we also offer dental implants and other restorative solutions. Regardless of the severity of your gum disease, you can depend on comfortable, patient-centered care with us. We take extra measures to deliver state-of-the treatments while keeping you relaxed at every step.
