Gum disease -- also referred to as periodontal disease -- is an infection of the gum and bone in your mouth. These infections can lead to tooth loss, so it is essential that if you suspect you may have gum disease you should have yourself checked-out by a periodontist immediately. Dr. Mark Sowell provides expert gum disease treatment in Dallas, Texas.
What Causes It?
There are several primary causes of gum or periodontal disease, but the main factor is bacterial plaque, which builds up on your teeth and gums throughout the day and overnight. Other causes for gum infections include:
• Diabetes
• Genetics
• Menopause
• Poor nutrition
• Pregnancy
• Puberty
• Some Medications
• Stress
• Teeth clenching and grinding
• Tobacco use
You will want to discuss all of these potential factors with your Dallas periodontist when you go in for your exam.
What Are the Symptoms?
Some of the more common symptoms of periodontal disease are:
• Bad breath
• Bleeding from the gums
• Changes in bite
• Gums pulling away from the teeth
• Loose teeth
• And red, sore, and swollen gums.
All of these symptoms can indicate a serious infection -- one that needs to be treated, immediately, by a periodontist. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to get your teeth and gums examined, or else you could risk losing one or more of your teeth.
What Are the Treatments?
There are currently several non-surgical and surgical treatments available for those with gum disease. Non-surgical treatment includes professional dental cleaning, where a dental hygienist or dentist removed plaque and tartar that has built-up on your teeth and along the gum line. A slightly more in-depth non-surgical treatment is called root planning and scaling. This treatment is done under a local anesthetic: rough spots on the tooth are smoothed down -- called planning -- and tartar and plaque are scraped away from both above and below the gum line -- called scaling. Your Dallas periodontist will let you know about your treatment options.
Surgical treatments for gum disease are serious procedures and need to be performed by periodontists who know how to perform the surgery. Surgical intervention is only needed when other, non-surgical treatments have failed or when the tissues around your gums is in such poor condition that there are no other options. Some of the surgical gum disease treatments are:
• Bone grafts
• Flap surgery
• Guided tissue regeneration
• Pocket reduction surgery
• And soft tissue grafts.
Prevention
There are several easy steps that you can take in order to minimize your risk of developing periodontal disease. First, if you smoke or use smoke-less tobacco products, quit. Tobacco leads to gum disease and cancer. Next, take good care of your teeth through flossing, brushing, and regular visits for check-ups and teeth cleanings. You also need to eat a balanced, nutritious diet and stay hydrated, which helps to produce saliva.
Your teeth and gums are an essential part of your overall health and you need to take care of them. For more information about gum disease treatment in Dallas, Texas, contact Dr. Mark Sowell --
http://www.smilesbysowell.com -- and schedule an appointment for an exam, today.
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