Periodontitis gum disease farmers branch texas champion dental clinic

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal Disease- The ‘Silent Killer’

Periodontitis gum disease farmers branch texas champion dental clinic

Gum disease is usually rather painless, but it can cause serious damage in several ways. The milder form, called gingivitis, is generally not much of a problem to your teeth and gums. Periodontal disease is an entirely different story and it needs to be brought under control quickly to avoid extensive damage to the gums, teeth, and jawbone. 

Once periodontal disease gets started, it will require a dentist to get rid of it. The CDC believes that as many as 50 percent of adults 30 or older have what is called advanced periodontal disease. This is equal to more than 64 million Americans. 

 

What are the causes and symptoms of periodontal disease?

 

Although there are several factors that help in the development of gum disease, both gingivitis and periodontal disease have the same root cause – bacteria. This bad bacterium is always in your mouth, but it is generally controlled in a healthy mouth. It feeds on sugar, and when it does, it produces an acid. The acid causes cavities and inflammation of the gums.

Over time, if the bad bacteria are allowed to multiply, pockets in the gums will develop and colonies of these bacteria will form inside of them. As it continues to produce acid, it begins to erode the gums, the tissues that support the teeth, and the jawbone underneath. The teeth will begin to get loose and may fall out. 

There are several causes of periodontal disease, but the primary one is simply not keeping the bacteria away from your teeth. This means that you most likely are not keeping up with brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. 

 

Other risk factors usually play on the primary one, but they can act alone. The other factors include:

 

  • Diabetes – gum disease is hard to control with diabetes. They go hand-in-hand – you cannot control one without controlling the other, too. 
  • Medications – some medications will promote periodontitis, but those that cause dry mouth are a special problem. 
  • Hormonal changes in women – including pregnancy.
  • Some illnesses.
  • Smoking – or using any kind of tobacco.
  • Obesity
  • Insufficient nutrition
  • Genetics – about one-third of Americans have the gene, but it does not mean you will get gum disease. If you do, however, it is apt to be difficult to control. 

 

Several symptoms will reveal the presence of gum disease and periodontal disease. The symptoms of gingivitis include infected gums and bleeding gums. If allowed to continue, gingivitis develops more serious symptoms and becomes periodontitis, with symptoms that include:

 

  • Receding gums
  • Bad breath that will not go away
  • Gums pulling away from your teeth
  • Inflamed gums
  • Pus forming along the gum line
  • Painful chewing
  • Loose teeth.
  • Spaces developing between your teeth

 

Recent research has shown that having any kind of gum disease can seriously affect your overall health. Periodontal disease causes inflammation that is now believed to spread throughout the body from the gums, causing such problems as cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and many more. 

 

Different Types of Periodontal Disease

 

There are three different types of periodontitis. They all need treatment. 

  • Chronic Periodontitis – It is the most common kind and it affects mostly adults. It causes slow deterioration, but it may get better or worse at times.
  • Aggressive Periodontitis – This is a rare form but it usually starts during childhood. It is usually genetic and the destruction occurs rapidly. 
  • Necrotizing Periodontal Disease – It involves the death of gum tissue, the ligaments that support the teeth, and the bone, causing severe infection. Most people that get it are immune system compromised.

 

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

 

Preventing periodontal disease in most cases is rather simple. Since periodontal disease starts out as gingivitis, generally all that is needed to remove it is to brush twice a day and floss. This will take care of it in most cases. 

Other things that you can do are to quit smoking, eat healthy foods to strengthen your gums immune system, consume less sugary foods, and visit the dentist to keep an eye on gum disease if it develops. 

 

Treatments available for periodontal disease

 

Several treatments are available for periodontal disease. The dentist will need to tell you which periodontal treatments are needed. They include:

  • Scaling and rootplaning – the dentist will open the pockets and remove the bacteria. Rough surfaces on teeth will be smoothed out.
  • Medications – different types of medicines may be inserted into the gum pockets to destroy the bacteria. They may include antibiotics and enzyme suppressants. 
  • Flap surgery – The gums are lifted back and then cleaned out. When completed, they are sutured to reduce pocket depth.
  • Bone and tissue grafts – These grafts may be necessary to replace destroyed tissue and to restore a more normal appearance. Gum grafts may be performed with a laser. 

 

Cost of Periodontal Treatment

 

The cost of getting periodontal disease treatment depends on the severity of the disease and how many appointments are needed. More serious periodontal disease needs to be treated by a specialist – a periodontist. A simpler treatment such as scaling and root planing will cost between $140 and $210. The cost for more severe problems will cost around $10,000. Laser treatment will cost about $1,000 per quadrant. 

 

If you need periodontal disease treatment and live in the Farmers Branch TX area, you can get it from Champion Dental clinic. In addition to gum disease treatment, we also offer cosmetic dentistry to restore your smile. For more information about our expert dental services, or to set up an appointment, visit our website 

 

why gums recede dfw tx

Why Your Gums Are Receding

The real reasons that you may not even think of

why gums recede dfw tx

When you have receding gums, it is often an indication that there is a problem. It reveals that your gums are not as healthy as they should be, and your oral health is declining. Healthy gums are necessary to help protect your teeth.

 

Symptoms of Receding Gums

Looking over your gums, there are some easy-to-spot symptoms that will help you know whether or not they are healthy. Some symptoms that reveal that your gums are in the early stages of gum disease include:

  • Bleeding gums 
  • Bright Red Gums
  • Bad Breath
  • Swollen gums
  • Increased sensitivity

 

Why You Should Stop Gum Decay

A receding gum line is often just the early steps to periodontitis. Unless it is treated and action is taken to stop it, it will gradually become worse. With the right conditions, it can quickly become serious. 

Gum decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that is out of control. Normally, the good bacteria, a healthy diet, and saliva keep it under control. As the bad bacterium multiplies, it produces an acid that starts to work on the gums and teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can remove the plaque (the bad bacteria) that forms on your teeth.

Without the proper dental care, pockets will begin to form on your gums before long. This provides the perfect hiding place for the bacteria to grow colonies – and produce more acid. This is called periodontitis. As the pockets become larger, it starts to break down the structures that hold your teeth in place, and the bone, and your teeth start to become loose and will eventually fall out. 

As your gums recede, it exposes the roots of your teeth. Prior to receding, the gums offered some protection for the roots, but as they recede, cavities can form on them and they become more sensitive. 

 

Inflammation and Other Disease

Researchers now know that the inflammation caused by gum disease is behind many potentially serious health problems. It can lead to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, a stroke, and many more.

 

Causes of Receding Gums

Before you can start to treat gum disease, you need to know what may be the cause of it. Some causes include:

  • Poor care of your teeth – A lack of regularly brushing your teeth and flossing will lead to gum disease. 
  • Grinding your teeth – If you grind your teeth (bruxism), you have an increased chance of developing gum disease. 
  • Brushing too hard – Brushing vigorously can wear away your gums, leading to gum recession. Using a toothbrush that has hard bristles can do the same thing. 
  • A gum injury – Trauma to your teeth can also help promote gum disease. 
  • Hormonal changes – Changes in the level of female hormones can help gums to be more likely to develop a disease of the gums. 
  • Illnesses – Various diseases can lead to the faster growth of the bacteria that causes gum disease. This includes diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia.
  • Genetics – It is possible that your genes may actually make you inclined to gum disease. WebMd says that as much as 30 percent of the population may be in this category, and how well you take care of your teeth may not prevent it.
  • Misaligned teeth – When your teeth are not aligned properly, it makes cleaning them more difficult. This often results in leaving food particles between your teeth – allowing bacteria to multiply and cause decay. 
  • Poor nutrition – Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the strengthening of your teeth and gums. Eating or drinking a lot of sugary foods provides food for the bacteria that causes gum disease. 
  • Obesity – Being overweight makes it harder to control gum disease.
  • Medications – Some medications will cause dry mouth, which encourages bacterial growth.
  • Drug abuse – Drug abuse generally promotes gum disease because the acids in them are strong, and those on drugs rarely take care of their teeth. 

 

Types of Gum Treatment

If you have a mild case of gingivitis, you can probably get rid of it by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. You will need to do it regularly to succeed.

If you already have pockets forming along the gum line, you will likely need to see a dentist for treatment. Periodontal treatment will be needed to stop it and repair the damage. Remedies include:

  • Non-surgical: medications, scaling and root planing.
  • Surgical: flap reduction surgery, gum grafting, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafting.

 

Preventing Receding Gums

The best way to prevent your gums from receding is to carry out a regular program of brushing for about two minutes at a time – twice a day, and flossing. This will usually eliminate the early stages of gum infection. 

If you are staying in and around Farmers branch , do call our clinic Champion Dental at 214-747-0763 for more information on gum disease treatment, and treatment for receding gums