Growing up and going to the dentist, it is almost guaranteed you have heard of gingivitis, but what exactly is it and how do you know if you have it? Gingivitis is the beginning stages of
gum disease and if not treated can advance into periodontitis. Knowing how to prevent gingivitis and how to identify symptoms of it can help keep your mouth healthy.
What Are Signs of Gingivitis?
Gingivitis can have a few different symptoms depending on the severity. In the early stages, it appears as redness of the gums just adjacent to where it meets the tooth. Plaque accumulation will lead to this type of symptom as your body responds to its current environment. As gingivitis progresses, you may see bleeding of the gums during brushing, using toothpicks, or even eating some hard foods.
What Happens If You Ignore Gingivitis?
Many people are unaware that they are even exhibiting signs of gingivitis. By going to the dentist for regular visits, you and your dentist can monitor gum health and advise treatment if any signs of gum disease are present. As we said earlier, if left untreated, gingivitis will eventually progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis is gum disease that begins to destroy the tissue that anchors your teeth into the bone and will eventually impacts the bone itself. At this point, you may see mobility of the teeth and risk losing the teeth that have been affected.
How to Prevent Gingivitis
Plaque accumulation leads to calculus accumulation, which is essentially calcified plaque. This build up leads to a chronic inflammatory response. The first thing you can do to prevent gingivitis is to maintain a great oral health plan. Brushing and flossing is essential as well as regular dental visits. Your dentist and dental hygienist can diagnose gingivitis and work with you to provide thorough cleanings, instruct you on proper techniques and monitor your progress that is determined by your risk levels.
What to Do if You Have Gum Disease
As a periodontis
t in Eustis and Maitland, Richardson Periodontics & Implant Dentistry often sees patients who have been referred by their dentist because they were diagnosed with gum disease or need to further examine the effects of a patient’s level of gum disease. There are many options for treating gum disease based on your unique case. Whether it is non-surgical scaling or
periodontal surgery, we can help to get your smile healthy again.
Richardson Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a full service periodontics and implant dentistry center with locations in Eustis, FL. Richardson Periodontics & Implant Dentistry offers a full array of periodontics services to help you maintain healthy gums and a beautiful smile. Contact our Eustis office at 352-589-1973 for more information about dental implants or schedule your appointment online.