Oral care is not just limited to brushing and flossing your teeth; it is also about caring for your gums. Following your lifestyle and dietary habits, your gums may often get exposed to bacteria, plaque, germs, and other elements. When you overlook your gum health, you may develop gum disease.
Gum disease has many stages. If ignored, it may further advance and affect your overall health. We advise you to schedule an appointment with us right after you feel pain, swelling, bleeding, or any other abnormality in your gums.
Why is Gum Health Important?
Your gum health is essential because gum disease significantly disrupts your overall health. Also known as periodontal disease, it may lead to mild redness and swelling in your gums. When developed to an advanced stage, it may also cause loss of teeth and the spread of bacteria to the rest of your body.
According to a recent study, people suffering from gum diseases are at a higher risk of developing other conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, dementia, and complications in pregnancy. It is, therefore, essential to take gum disease seriously.
What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
In many cases, gum disease is painless, even though it may damage the bone supporting your teeth. When you develop gingivitis, your gums will appear red and swollen. You may experience bleeding while brushing or flossing your teeth. Other symptoms that suggest you may have gum disease include difficulty chewing your food, bad breath, pain in your gums, etc.
How to Prevent Gum Disease?
Gum disease develops because of the deposits of plaque, tartar, and food residues in your mouth. All these activities make your gums inflamed and swollen. It is best to visit us for dental cleaning once every six months.
During your dental cleaning, we will remove the build-up of these substances from the surface of your teeth and also from above and below your gum line. We may also perform scaling and root planing. These non-surgical procedures are done after administering local anesthesia. Both these treatments remove the hardened plaque from above and below your gum line. After removing these substances, we smoothen your teeth with the help of dental instruments.
Prevention of gum diseases also includes following a healthy lifestyle and routine oral care. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly, especially after eating your meal. Quit consumption of alcohol and smoking.
To find out more about the dental services we offer at Montpelier Family Dentistry, Laurel, MD, call (301) 812-4599 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit Dentist 14502 Greenview Dr #100, Laurel, MD, 20708.