Gingivitis Treatment in Clayton, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Clayton, MO. Are your gums red or inflamed? Does it hurt to brush your teeth? 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 Clayton, MO. We treat each patient as if they were a member of our own family. If you are experiencing symptoms of gingivitis, or just 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 sometimes painful, it is normally considered mild. However, if if it is not treated it can lead to more serious dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. For that reason it’s imperative to receive 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 prominent health issues in the U.S. If you believe you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Clayton, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Clayton, MO the instant that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will usually 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 necessary, 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 already in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Good dental hygiene is vital because plaque builds up quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is not removed, it hardens 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 are allowed to accumulate, they irritate the gingiva and cause swelling. When not treated properly, gingivitis can result in serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, bad dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth regularly 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 nervous about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel at ease. Nervous patients are of particular interest to us as we want everyone in Clayton, MO to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors related to gingivitis, such as:
- 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 tell, your gum health can hint at your overall health. That’s another reason why it’s important to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Clayton, MO dental office at the onset of 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
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding when brushing your teeth
If you believe you have gingivitis, it is essential to get in touch with your local Clayton, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health routine recommended by your Clayton, MO dentist will almost always 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, 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 an indispensable part of what we do for our patients. We want to educate you on how to best take care of your teeth and gums in order to stave off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease occurs anyway, and that’s when you need professional Clayton, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it worsens. Often, 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 Clayton, MO dentist are essential. We can note early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially receive gingivitis treatment from your Clayton, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will strive to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. 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 needed. Your Clayton, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand how to best treat your gingivitis. 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 use a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape underneath the gums and remove the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Clayton, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. As smoother surfaces are less complicated to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps fend of further tartar build-up, and has the additional benefit of lessening any irritation that may arise from the scaling.
- Dental Restoration. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or misaligned teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes staving off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are cleared away, your Clayton, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you develop an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make sure the gingivitis does not come back. We will also schedule your next appointment to make certain your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help remove harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can result in serious issues with your gums, which can typically only be treated with surgery. To avoid this last option, make an appointment with your Clayton, MO dental office at Plaza Dental when you first experience symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Clayton, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think you might have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you get in touch with Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment right away. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Clayton, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.