Gingivitis Treatment in Crestwood, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Crestwood, MO. Are your gums red or swollen? 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 professional, friendly, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Crestwood, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own family. If you are experiencing symptoms of gingivitis, or just haven’t had your regular dental appointment 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 usually considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more serious dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. That’s why it’s imperative to receive gingivitis treatment right away. The CDC has found 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 Crestwood, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Crestwood, MO the moment 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 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 accumulates on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This usually develops in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs when food particles interact with the bacteria that are already 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 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 inflamed. 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 inflammation. When not treated properly, gingivitis can cause 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 consistently or not having regular visits to your dentist is typically the primary culprit. If you haven’t seen the dentist because you’re anxious about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel at ease. Anxious patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Crestwood, MO resident and family to have the expert dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors related to gingivitis, such as:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- 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 misaligned teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can tell, 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 Crestwood, MO dental office when symptoms start.
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. The usual 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 after brushing your teeth
If you think you have gingivitis, it is imperative to reach out to your local Crestwood, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, daily oral health routine recommended by your Crestwood, 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 daily
- Flossing once a day
- Regular, twice-yearly professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General good health practices, such as eating well and exercising to keep your immune system up
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers have gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is a vital part of what we do for our patients. We strive to educate you on the best means of taking 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 require trusted Crestwood, 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 impact their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a professional Crestwood, 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 initially get gingivitis treatment from your Crestwood, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This most often includes checking 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 serious cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be needed. Your Crestwood, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand how to best treat your gingivitis. 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 below the gingiva and get rid of the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Crestwood, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. As smoother surfaces are simpler to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps fend of further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may arise from the scaling.
- Dental Restoration. Ill-fitting 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 complicated.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Crestwood, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you develop an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative measures to guarantee that the gingivitis does not come back. We will also make your next appointment to ensure 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 cause serious issues with your gums, which can usually only be treated with surgery. To avoid this last option, make an appointment with your Crestwood, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first notice symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Crestwood, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the first symptoms of gingivitis, or suspect you might have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you contact Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment right away. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with Crestwood, MO individuals and families no matter how young or old. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.