How do I cure gum disease?

If you are seeing some possible signs or symptoms of gum disease you are not alone. 47% of American adults over the age of 30 have some level or form of gum disease. Being painless it is difficult to diagnose if you are negligent in your oral hygiene habits.

The Causes of Gum Disease

We each have millions of bacteria in our mouth every single day. The only way to keep that bacteria in check is to brush your teeth. If you do not brush regularly the bacteria sits on the enamel of your teeth and quickly forms a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque causes cavities. As the plaque encounters the soft tissue of the gum it will immediately infect the gums. So simple and so avoidable by simply brushing.

Stage One and Cures

The first stage of the disease is called gingivitis. At this point the tissue becomes swollen and the nice pink color of your gums will darken. The gum disease can still be cured or reversed at this point. If you look in the mirror and suspect a change in your gums schedule a dental appointment. The dentist will evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums and confirm the presence of gum disease. A professional teeth cleaning is next with the scaling of the tooth going beyond the gum line to remove any damaging plaque that is in contact with the gums. An antibiotic is prescribed and the gum disease will subside in the oncoming days.

Stage Two and Cures

If the gum disease has advance to the next level, called periodontitis, the symptoms, the disease and the potential cures are all more complicated. At this stage the gums most likely will begin to bleed and now are tender to the touch. The tissue begins to pull away from the teeth creating pockets. These pockets are perfect places to harbor food particles that just add insult to injury in the advancement of the infection. Now your dentist needs to extend that deep scaling down the root to remove the damaging plaque. The root may have to be surgically planned to make it smooth again. It is possible that there may be bone or tissue lost at this stage. Only time can help the healing process and some of the damage now may not be reversible.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

Outside of a unique family history or the negative effects of medications the primary culprit is the bacterial carrying plaque. The prevention of this is totally on you. The health industry suggests that you brush slowly and patiently twice a day to get that plaque off your teeth. They also would like to see you floss between your teeth at least once a day to get to those hard to reach areas. If you can match these good oral hygiene habits with two dental visits a year to maintain your oral hygiene in a preventive state you can avoid any and all gum disease. Take care of your mouth, your teeth and your gums. Do not take them or your smile for granted.

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