Gingivitis Treatment in Central West End, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Central West End, MO. Are your gums red or puffy? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? If that’s the case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers qualified, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Central West End, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own family. If you are showing 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 fill out our online contact form.
While gingivitis is sometimes 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 imperative to receive gingivitis treatment immediately. The CDC states that 46 percent 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 suspect you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Central West End, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Central West End, MO the instant you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will commonly develop into more advanced gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some more information on gingivitis and how to know when to seek out 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 normally occurs in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs because of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are commonly in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that bother your gums. Good dental hygiene is vital 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 acts as a protective shield for more bacteria. The only way to get rid of tartar is with 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 inflammation. When left untreated, gingivitis can result in serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, improper 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 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. Worried patients are of special interest to us as we want everyone in Central West End, MO to have the expert 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 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 indicative of your overall health. That’s another reason why it’s important to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Central West End, MO dental office when you first experience 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
- 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 think you have gingivitis, it is important to call your local Central West End, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, daily oral health routine recommended by your Central West End, 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-yearly 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 want to show you the best methods of taking care of your teeth and gums in order to stave off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease appears anyway, and that’s when you need trusted Central West End, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it gets worse. Many 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 an expert Central West End, MO dentist are essential. We are able to detect early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially seek gingivitis treatment from your Central West End, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis quickly. This typically 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 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 serious cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be required. Your Central West End, 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. Your dentist will first numb the area they are going to scale, then will use a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape underneath the gums and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Central West End, 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 prevent 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 misaligned teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing more difficult, which makes fending off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are gone, your Central West End, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to guarantee that the gingivitis does not return. We will also schedule your next appointment to guarantee that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth and prevent further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can cause serious problems for your gums, which can frequently only be cured with surgery. To avoid this last option, schedule an appointment with your Central West End, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Central West End, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have noticed the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think you may have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you contact Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment immediately. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Central West End, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.