Gingivitis Treatment in Black Jack, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Black Jack, MO. Have your gums become red or inflamed? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have chronic bad breath? If that’s the 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 Black Jack, 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 dentist’s appointment in a long time, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis is occasionally painful, it is usually 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. For that reason it’s important to receive gingivitis treatment right away. 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 think you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Black Jack, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should seek professional gingivitis treatment in Black Jack, MO the minute 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 more 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 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 important because plaque accumulates quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it solidifies under your gums and becomes tartar, which collects bacteria and behaves 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 not treated properly, gingivitis can cause serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, poor dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth regularly 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 at ease. Apprehensive patients are of particular interest to us as we want everyone in Black Jack, MO to have the professional dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors associated with gingivitis, including:
- Tobacco use
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not sufficiently 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 see, 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 Black Jack, MO dental office when you first see 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. Common symptoms of gingivitis include:
- 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 essential to contact your local Black Jack, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, daily oral health routine recommended by your Black Jack, MO dentist will generally stop gingivitis before it starts. The best methods 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 proper health practices, such as eating well and exercising to keep your immune system up
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers develop gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is an important part of what we do for our patients. We strive to show 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 arises anyway, and that’s when you require professional Black Jack, 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 mild and not affect their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why biannual teeth cleanings by a professional Black Jack, MO dentist are vital. We are able to note early symptoms of gingivitis and other dental problems and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially get gingivitis treatment from your Black Jack, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will strive to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. 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 prevented and reversed with professional gingivitis treatment.
In more advanced cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be necessary. Your Black Jack, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand how to best treat your gums. 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 utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape under the gums and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Black Jack, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Because smoother surfaces are less complicated to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps stave off further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may come about 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 preventing gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Black Jack, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you implement an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to ensure the gingivitis does not come back. We will also make your next appointment to guarantee that your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth and stave off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can cause serious issues with your gums, which can typically only be treated with surgery. To avoid this, schedule an appointment with your Black Jack, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Black Jack, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the initial 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 today. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with Black Jack, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.