How to Detect and Relieve Gum Disease

Have you been brushing your teeth, and when you gargle and spit inside the sink, you see blood? Well, the bleeding could be caused by gum disease. This could be your first warning sign. If it is the mild version, then in the dental profession, it is known as gingivitis. If it is more severe, it is known as periodontitis. It means your gum is infected below the gum line and inside the bone, and it can get worse if not taken care of. It can trigger more risky medical conditions, such as:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Respiratory disease

Therefore, early detection of gum disease is the ideal solution. Now, let us take a look at some of the periodontitis causes you should know about.

Periodontitis Causes and The Symptoms

As indicated above, spitting out blood when you brush your teeth is an early symptom of gum disease. If your gums are red and swollen, that is another early indicator you should pay attention to. The gum line gets inflamed and swollen with feelings of pain and tenderness, and blood when you brush or floss. Gum disease also results in bad breath, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. The bacteria feed on the plaque in your mouth while releasing toxins, which subsequently irritates your teeth and gum, causing a foul odor. This could indicate that you have chronic gum disease because you do not have an odor with gingivitis.

Additional Causes

If your gums look like they are shrinking, your teeth will look long, and there is a chance that you have gum disease. When the bones begin to break down, it means that your gums are separating from your teeth. It creates a pocket, and in dental terms, this is known as receding gums. If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, and when sipping cold water, you have to wince, these may be symptoms of gum disease. This teeth sensitivity happens when you are suffering from receding gums.

The Treatment for Periodontitis

Anyone with gum disease has to consider controlling the infection. Your dentist will use deep cleaning as the first treatment option – deep cleaning targets under the patient’s gum line. The dentist will apply scaling methods where tartar is scraped away from the gum line, both above and below the gum line. The dentist may also use a root planing method, where the rough surfaces in the root of the teeth are smoothened out. Both methods are used to attach the gums to the tooth in its natural form again. This might take several dentist visits. The treatment might also include medication such as oral antibiotics. Other treatment options include enzyme suppressants, antibiotic gel, gum graft or flap surgery, and antiseptic chip.

If you are experiencing gum disease and want to know more about periodontitis causes, you should consider calling Transcendentist in Berkeley, CA, at (510) 800-7660 to make an appointment.

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