Gingivitis Treatment in Glendale, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Glendale, MO. Have your gums become red or puffy? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? In that case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers qualified, friendly, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Glendale, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own family. If you have developed symptoms of gingivitis, or just haven’t had your regular cleaning in a long time, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis is occasionally painful, it is normally considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more severe dental problems such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. That’s why it’s important to receive gingivitis treatment at once. The CDC says that 46 percent U.S. adults over 30 have gingivitis or other gum disease, which makes it one of the more common health issues in the U.S. If you believe you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Glendale, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Glendale, MO the second you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will commonly develop into more severe gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some further information on gingivitis and how to know when you need gingivitis treatment.
Gingivitis Causes
Gingivitis is caused, and gingivitis treatment is needed, when plaque accumulates on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This usually develops in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs when food particles interact with the bacteria that are normally in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Good dental hygiene is vital because plaque accumulates quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is not removed, it solidifies under your gums and becomes tartar, which collects bacteria and behaves as a protective shield for more bacteria. Tartar can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.
- Gingiva become inflamed. The gingiva are the part of the gum at the base of your teeth. When tartar and plaque are not removed, they irritate the gingiva and cause swelling. When not treated quickly, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, poor dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth consistently or not having regular visits to your dentist is usually the primary culprit. If you haven’t made an appointment with the dentist because you’re worried about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel relaxed. Anxious patients are of special interest to us as we want everyone in Glendale, MO to have the expert dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors associated with gingivitis, such as:
- Tobacco use
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully removing plaque in the gum line
- Poor nutrition and vitamin C deficiency
- Stress
- Dental implants that don’t fit properly or crooked teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can tell, your gum health can be indicative of your overall health. That’s another reason why it’s important to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Glendale, MO dental office when you first see symptoms.
Gingivitis Symptoms
When plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth and in your gums, your gums will react by becoming irritated and enacting several defense mechanisms. Typical symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Chronic bad breath
- Dark red gums
- Gum recession
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding after brushing your teeth
If you suspect you have gingivitis, it is imperative to get in touch with your local Glendale, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health routine recommended by your Glendale, MO dentist will almost always stop gingivitis before it starts. The best means of prevention are:
- Proper oral hygiene, including:
- Brushing at least 2 minutes, twice a day
- Flossing once a day
- Regular, twice a year professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General good health practices, such as eating well and exercising to maintain a healthy immune system
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers have gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is an essential part of what we do for our patients. We want to teach you the best methods of taking care of your teeth and gums in order to fend off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease arises anyway, and that’s when you need quality Glendale, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it intensifies. Many times, a patient does not notice when gingivitis starts as the symptoms can be minor and not impact their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-yearly teeth cleanings by a professional Glendale, MO dentist are vital. We can note early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and give you gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially seek gingivitis treatment from your Glendale, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis quickly. This usually includes checking your gums for bleeding, swelling, and/or redness, checking your gingiva for plaque or tartar, measuring the pocket depth of your gums, and looking for loose teeth and gums that pull away from the teeth easily. In most cases, gingivitis is easily stopped and reversed with professional gingivitis treatment.
In more advanced cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be required. Your Glendale, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand how to best treat your gums. Some more advanced treatments include:
- Scaling and Root Planning, or Deep Cleaning. After numbing the area they are going to scale, your dentist then will use a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape below the gums and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Glendale, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Because smoother surfaces are easier to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps fend of further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may come about from the scaling.
- Restorative Dentistry. Ill-fitting dental crowns, dental implants, or crooked teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes staving off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Glendale, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative measures to guarantee that the gingivitis does not return. We will also make your next appointment to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If left untreated, gingivitis can cause serious issues with your gums, which can typically only be treated with surgery. To avoid surgery, make an appointment with your Glendale, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Glendale, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have experienced the first symptoms of gingivitis, or suspect you may have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you reach out to Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment immediately. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Glendale, MO individuals and families no matter how young or old. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.