Gum Disease
Stratford, CT
If you have gum disease, there are some consequences to your mouth. If you are not sure about gum disease, and you want to learn more, Brush & Floss Dental Center can give you information about gum disease, and how you can prevent it.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is exactly like it sounds - a disease that affects your gums. In fact, it is an infection. Many infections that occur in your body are painful, but gum disease does not become painful until it becomes more serious. Gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. There are always bacteria in your mouth, but you can wash some of it away if you have good oral hygiene routines. If you aren’t brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, you are allowing bacteria to stay inside your mouth for longer - which could lead to gum disease.
What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?
We identify three stages of gum disease. When you get gum disease, it is called gingivitis in the first, or initial stage. A lot of people suffer from gingivitis. When you have gingivitis, your gums can become red or even inflamed. Your gums could also bleed easily, and they might be tender or swollen. If you are at stage one of gum disease, we are able to treat it, and your gums won’t suffer any permanent damage.
That is not the case with the second stage of gum disease. The second stage of gum disease is called mild periodontitis or early periodontitis. During the second stage of gum disease, you could develop spaces between your teeth and gums. These spaces are called pockets. Pockets are the area where the infection lives and creates a lot of issues with your gums. If you are at stage two of periodontitis, you might notice that your gums are pulling away from where they should be. You could also have bad breath. You might notice some pockets of infection between your teeth and gums on the gumline. We are able to treat stage two of gum disease as well, but you may still notice damage to your gums.
When you get to stage three, your gums may have begun to recede further from your teeth. You can also clearly see an infection along the gumline. Your teeth may be loose because of the distance between your teeth and gums. You may have problems chewing food. You might also notice that your dentures, bridges or crowns are no longer fitting the way they should.
What Should I Do?
If you think you have gum disease, you need to give Brush & Floss Dental Center a call at (203) 683-5253 immediately. Of course, prevention is the best treatment, but if you already have gum disease, there are things we can do to make sure that your gums don’t sustain any more damage. If you have lost teeth, we can help with bridges, dentures or implants. If you are worried about the health of your gums, call us today. |
