Caring for our teeth is an important aspect of caring caring for our overall health. Poor brushing habits can leave us vulnerable to infections and pain. Flossing and brushing before and after bed plays an important role in our oral health, as well as regular visits to your dentists for routine checkups and cleaning.
What is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease and can lead to tooth loss. A majority of Periodontitis cases emerge from untreated issues like gingivitis.
Periodontitis causes your gums to pull apart from your theath, leaving pockets on either side. These pockets allow for debris you can’t remove from brushing alone and cause bad breath, infections, and even tooth loss.
Plaque is the main culprit of this gum disease, including periodontitis. Improper brushing leaves plaque around our teeth, which leads to bacteria build up right by our gums. Even if you think you brush thoroughly, it’s possible for periodontitis to occur making regular cleanings from your dentists key to prevention and early detection.
Three Signs of Periodontitis
1- Don’t assume that bleeding gums are just a case of brushing too hard, this could be an early sign of something more serious. If your gums bleed regularly when you brush your teeth it’s a sign that you may at least have a case of gingivitis. If you have bleeding gums, but other signs, flossing and paying more attention to brush around your gums may solve the problem. If bleeding persists,however, it’s possible that gingivitis or periodontitis has already set in.
2- Swelling and soreness in your gums are another sign of periodontitis. Your gums should be light pink, or flesh like in color. If you notice your gums look red or they become painful to touch, it’s a sign you need to call your dentist. Next to bleeding gums this is one of the more obvious signs your oral health may be below par.
3- Bad breath isn’t just from your morning coffee, and is one of the most well-known early detection signs of gum disease. Periodontitis causes gum tissue to rot, which doesn’t smell that great. Plaque build-up in the pockets around your teeth caused by periodontitis can can also cause bad breath. If you have a bad taste in your mouth, even after brushing, then you shouldn’t make an appointment with your dentist.
How do you Treat Periodontitis?
To treat gum disease like periodontitis you need to visit an expert like the team at Fort Bend Periodontics & Implantology. Dr. Dyer and his team are qualified professionals who specialize in the treatment of gum disease.
For early stage gum disease such as gingivitis, Dr Dyer and his team can use non-invasive treatments to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar in and around your gums. This involves a special cleaning called scaling and root planing that removes all signs of gingivitis.
More severe cases of gum disease, like periodontitis, may require surgery. Fort Bend Periodontics offers solutions with soft and hard tissue lasers. These lasers effectively remove infections and are considered a minimally invasive procedure. Dr. Dyer offers perio exams for $99 and include xrays, both panoramic and 3D.
Seeking advice from an experienced dental surgeon is key to understanding your options. Dr. Dyer and his staff are ready to help you navigate those options and help you improve your oral health while improving your smile and help you live pain free.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or have general questions about gingivitis, periodontitis or other gum diseases, do not hesitate to reach out to Fort Bend Periodontics & Implantology.
