Gum disease is also medically referred to as periodontal disease. It is a common disease that affects the oral health of individuals, mainly as a result of poor oral hygiene. The condition features the infection of the gum tissues and the surrounding soft tissues of the mouth. However, with advancement, it can affect the bone structure of the teeth.
Patients with gum disease experience various signs and symptoms. At first, it is easy to brush it off as the mouth acting up. However, gum disease can be very severe, requiring immediate periodontal disease treatment in Richmond, TX.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease can occur because of several reasons, including the following:
- Plaque build-up – this is the number one reason for most types of gum disease. With poor oral hygiene, saliva, food residue, acids, and bacteria in the mouth mix. The combination hangs onto teeth and the tongue. With time, a sticky substance forms on the surfaces of teeth, and in between. This substance is called plaque. If plaque sits in for too long, it can result in tartar. Plaque is bad for oral health. It can quickly deteriorate the stability of teeth by affecting the gum tissue and the bone structure. When it comes to gum disease, the infection builds up from the plaque in the mouth.
- Medical conditions – some diseases can cause gum disease. Researchers and medical experts continue to study the relationship between periodontal disease and diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, obesity, and respiratory disorders.
- Family history – your dentist has to check to confirm that gum disease is not in your bloodline, as this could increase the risks of your getting the infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
Depending on how severe the condition is, patients will experience different symptoms. Among the typical symptoms to observe are:
- Swollen gums – the body’s immune system is quick to respond with inflammation when there is an infection. For this reason, gum disease causes swelling of the gum tissue. The swelling can be gradual from one spot of the mouth as it spreads.
- Redness of the gums – this is often accompanied by the swelling.
- Pain in the gums – gum disease causes a lot of discomfort in the gum tissue. This can make chewing and eating very difficult for patients.
- Bleeding – most patients identify infection of their gums from bleeding. This is especially so when brushing of biting into foods. Technically, the mouth can control any bleeding that happens inside. This means that if the bleeding persists over time, it could be an indicator of gum disease.
- Pus around the gum and tooth – if a discharge is visible in the area around your teeth and gums, it is definitely gum disease.
- Bad breath – even though many reasons could result in bad breath, gum disease is one of them. The infection result from harmful bacteria in the mouth that can have a foul smell. Be especially concerned if you have persistent bad breath despite your efforts to get rid of it.
- Loose teeth – when periodontal disease advances, the stability of teeth is compromised. The infection causes bone loss, which shakes the foundation of teeth. If your teeth are loose or even falling out without probable cause, it could be gum disease.
- Receding gums – do you feel like your teeth are growing bigger? As an adult, this should not be possible, unless in an abnormality. If you feel like your teeth are bigger than usual, it is because your gums are receding away from the teeth.
Solutions for Gum Disease
The first place to begin when you suspect gum disease is by reaching out to your dentist. A dentist has the medical expertise to diagnose your condition and determine whether or not it is gum disease. Once that is determined, solutions will vary, including:
- Plaque and tartar removal – this will help get rid of all the bacteria causing infection
- Professional teeth cleaning – to wash off any bacteria and food residues in your mouth
- Proper hygiene – if you do not have a serious case of plaque build-up or tartar, improving your oral hygiene can do the trick. This includes flossing daily and brushing at least twice each day.
- Teeth restoration – where teeth have been lost
