Gum disease is a serious problem that could eventually cause you to lose teeth. It typically begins as gingivitis, but it gets much worse when it is not cared for by a dental hygienist. If you believe that you currently have gum disease but you have not been to the dental office in many years, scheduling an appointment with a gentle and professional dentist is necessary. When you do not make the appointment and visit the dentist for treatment, you will only continue to suffer from the many symptoms of gum disease.

What Types of Symptoms Occur Because of Gum Disease?

If you have gum disease, you can experience several frustrating and painful symptoms that will often become much worse over time. If you tend to see blood coming from your gums when you are brushing your teeth and or even using some floss to get between the teeth and remove plaque, you likely have gum disease. While bleeding is one of the signs, there are quite a few additional signs that you could be experiencing, including chronic bad breath that does not stop despite the use of toothpaste and mouthwash, swelling of the gums, and discomfort of the gums. Some people will experience redness, sharp pain, and swelling simultaneously. 

Why Does Gum Disease Develop?

You may have gum disease due to a poor oral hygiene routine. Everyone has some bacteria in their mouths. The bad bacteria gets removed when an individual brushes, rinses, and flosses multiple times a day. If you are not brushing, flossing, or even rinsing as often as you should, the bacteria will have time to sit on the teeth and turn into plaque that eventually contributes to gum disease. Some people are completely unaware of the overall importance of flossing. Even if you brush, it is simply not enough to get the bacteria that get stuck between your teeth. You should always make it a habit to floss and then rinse your mouth out with mouthwash that helps to fight plaque, bad breath, and decay. Your oral hygiene routine should involve several steps that will keep teeth healthier and much cleaner.

What Is Treatment Like For Gum Disease?

If you go to the dental office, have your teeth and gums looked at, and find out that you do have gum disease, the dentist will let you know what kind of dental work you would need to have completed. Treatment may begin with a deep cleaning. During that deep cleaning, the dentist will use a scaler to scale away at the tartar that is found on your teeth. Once it all gets removed from the teeth, the next step involves carefully cleaning the gums to rid them of the bacteria that has accumulated on them. If the gum disease is very severe, you will likely need to undergo a procedure that involves removing bits of tissue that are no longer in good condition. Before having you undergo the procedure, the dentist may attempt to treat the gum disease with prescription medication that you can take at home while starting a healthier oral hygiene routine.

You can brush your teeth each day and still end up with gum disease. People who have gum disease often end up with it because they are not brushing as much as they should and they are unaware of how important it is to use floss and mouthwash. If the teeth and gums are not cared for as well as they need to be, the bacteria can continue to spread out, causing the disease to develop on the gums. Although it is a serious problem that can eventually lead to tooth loss, you can work on having it treated by making your appointment to visit with a dentist.

To learn more, contact a dentist in your area.