Gingivitis Treatment in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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? If so, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers expert, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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 while, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis can sometimes be painful, it is typically considered mild. However, if if it is not treated it can lead to more severe dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. That’s why it’s best to seek out gingivitis treatment right away. The CDC says that nearly half of U.S. adults over 30 have gingivitis or other gum disease, which makes it one of the more prominent health issues in the U.S. If you think you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO the minute that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will commonly develop into more severe gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some more information on gingivitis and how to know when you need gingivitis treatment.
Gingivitis Causes
Gingivitis is caused, and gingivitis treatment is needed, when plaque forms on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This generally occurs 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 bother your gums. Good dental hygiene is essential because plaque accumulates quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is not removed, it hardens under your gums and becomes tartar, which collects bacteria and acts as a protective shield for more bacteria. The only way to get rid of tartar is with 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 swelling. When left untreated, gingivitis can result in 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 usually the primary culprit. If you haven’t been to the dentist because you’re worried about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel relaxed. Worried patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO resident and family to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors associated with gingivitis, including:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not adequately removing plaque in the gum line
- Poor nutrition and vitamin C deficiency
- Stress
- Dental implants that don’t fit properly or misaligned teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can see, your gum health can hint at your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dental office at the onset of symptoms.
Gingivitis Symptoms
When plaque and tartar accumulate on your teeth and in your gums, your gums will react by becoming irritated and implementing several defense mechanisms. The usual 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 suspect you have gingivitis, it is important to get in touch with your local Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, daily oral health regimen recommended by your Bellefontaine Neighbors, 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, twice-yearly professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General proper 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 important part of our treatment plan for our patients. We want to teach you how to best take care of your teeth and gums in order to stave off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease emerges anyway, and that’s when you require trusted Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis disappear before it worsens. Many times, a patient does not notice when gingivitis starts as the symptoms can be mild and not impact their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-yearly teeth cleanings by a qualified Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist are essential. We are able to observe early symptoms of gingivitis and other dental problems and give you gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first seek gingivitis treatment from your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This usually means looking at your gums for bleeding, inflammation, 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 prevented and reversed with professional gingivitis treatment.
In more progressive cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be needed. Your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gums. Some more advanced treatments include:
- Scaling and Root Planning, or Deep Cleaning. Your dentist will first numb the area they are going to scale, then will utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape underneath the gums and get rid of the tarter that has built up. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. Because smoother surfaces are simpler to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps prevent further tartar build-up, and has the additional benefit of lessening any irritation that may develop from the scaling.
- Restorative Dentistry. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or crooked teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing more difficult, which makes staving off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are gone, your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make sure the gingivitis does not reoccur. We will also schedule your next appointment to make sure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help destroy harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious issues with your gums, which can usually only be cured with surgery. To avoid this, schedule an appointment with your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first see symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have experienced the first symptoms of gingivitis, or worry you might have more advanced gum disease, it is imperative that you call Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment right away. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.