Gingivitis Treatment in Bel-Nor, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Bel-Nor, MO. Have your gums become red or puffy? Does it hurt to brush your teeth? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? If so, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers expert, friendly, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Bel-Nor, MO. We treat each patient as if they were a member of our own family. If you have developed symptoms of gingivitis, or simply haven’t had your regular cleaning in a long time, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.
While gingivitis is occasionally painful, it is typically considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more serious dental problems such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. So it’s best to seek out gingivitis treatment at once. The CDC has found 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 suspect you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Bel-Nor, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Bel-Nor, MO the minute that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will usually develop into more serious 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 required, when plaque forms on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This generally develops in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs as the result of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are commonly in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that bother your gums. Daily dental hygiene is important because plaque builds up quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it hardens 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 swollen. 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 inflammation. When left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, bad dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth twice a day or not having regular visits to your dentist is most often the primary culprit. If you haven’t made an appointment with the dentist because you’re anxious 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 every Bel-Nor, MO resident and family to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors related to gingivitis, including:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully removing plaque in the gingiva
- 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 see, your gum health can be representative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Bel-Nor, MO dental office at the first sign of symptoms.
Gingivitis Symptoms
When plaque and tartar accumulate on your teeth and in your gums, your gums will react by becoming irritated and enacting several defense mechanisms. Typical symptoms of gingivitis are:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bad breath you cannot get rid of
- Dark red gums
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding when brushing your teeth
If you think you have gingivitis, it is imperative to contact your local Bel-Nor, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health routine recommended by your Bel-Nor, MO dentist will generally 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, biannual professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General correct health practices, such as eating well and exercising to keep your immune system healthy
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers develop gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is a vital part of our treatment plan for our patients. We want to educate you on the best means 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 Bel-Nor, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it intensifies. A lot of times, a patient does not notice when gingivitis starts as the symptoms can be minor and not affect their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a qualified Bel-Nor, MO dentist are so important. We are able to note early signs of gingivitis and other dental problems and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first get gingivitis treatment from your Bel-Nor, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis quickly. This usually means looking at your gums for bleeding, swelling, and/or redness, checking your gingiva for plaque or tartar, measuring the pocket depth of your gums, and checking 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 intense gingivitis treatment may be necessary. Your Bel-Nor, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gingivitis. Some more advanced treatments are:
- 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 under the gums and get rid of the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Bel-Nor, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Because smoother surfaces are less difficult to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps prevent further tartar build-up, and has the added benefit of reducing any irritation that may arise from the scaling.
- Dental Restoration. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or crooked teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes fending off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Bel-Nor, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you create an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make certain the gingivitis does not come back. We will also make your next appointment to make certain your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help destroy harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can cause serious issues with your gums, which can usually only be treated with surgery. To avoid this, schedule an appointment with your Bel-Nor, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Bel-Nor, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have seen the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think you may have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you call Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Bel-Nor, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.