Gum disease, medically referred to as periodontal disease, affects almost half of American adults, and it’s the leading cause of permanent tooth loss.
While some contributing factors of gum disease are out of your control, such as genetics or hormonal imbalances, it most often develops from an ineffective oral hygiene routine and irregular dental cleanings. The earliest form of gum disease is called gingivitis, and this milder stage can easily be reversed with the right treatments.
At Andreacola Family Dentistry in Marlton, New Jersey, Lynn M. Andreacola, DMD, and the rest of our team are passionate about the role that regular cleaning and prevention can have in the early detection and reversal of gingivitis.
In this month’s blog, we review how gum disease develops and how we can help with gingivitis reversal.
Saliva and food particles form a sticky substance in your mouth known as plaque. Brushing and flossing your teeth should remove the plaque, but if you leave some behind, the plaque can build up and harden into a substance called tartar.
Once a layer of tartar has developed, you can’t remove it through brushing and flossing alone. The layers of plaque and tartar buildup give infectious bacteria the perfect place to rapidly develop, triggering the gingivitis inflammation and infection.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that can erode your gums and jawbone and eventually lead to tooth loss.
In the early stages of gingivitis, symptoms may not always be obvious to you, but if you do develop this early stage of gum disease, you may notice some or all of the following:
Gingivitis is likely if these symptoms continue to worsen over time.
Noticing gum disease during the earliest stages means there’s no permanent damage and the condition can be completely reversed.
Seeing Dr. Andreacola for regular dental appointments ensures that our team can spot signs of trouble and remove the tough layers of plaque and tartar before they’ve had a chance to infect your gums.
We can also suggest some adjustments you can make to your oral hygiene routine to make it more effective. Making sure you brush your teeth well twice a day and flossing once a day removes plaque before it hardens into tartar and puts you at risk for gum disease.
To schedule your next dental exam and cleaning, call Andreacola Family Dentistry, or request an appointment online.
