Gingivitis Treatment in Ferguson, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Ferguson, MO. Have your gums become red or swollen? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? In that case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers professional, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Ferguson, 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 cleaning in a while, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis is sometimes painful, it is usually considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more severe dental problems such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. That’s why it’s important to seek out 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 believe you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Ferguson, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Ferguson, MO the instant you start to see symptoms. 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 to seek out 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 develops in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs as the result of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are already in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Daily dental hygiene is vital because plaque accumulates 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 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 swelling. When not treated adequately, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, poor 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 anxious 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 Ferguson, MO to have the professional dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors associated with gingivitis, such as:
- Tobacco use
- 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 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 Ferguson, 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. Common symptoms of gingivitis are:
- 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 imperative to get in touch with your local Ferguson, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Ferguson, 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 maintain a healthy immune system
- 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 quality Ferguson, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it intensifies. Often, 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 an expert Ferguson, MO dentist are so important. We can note early symptoms of gingivitis and other gum disease and give you gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first seek gingivitis treatment from your Ferguson, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This usually 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 advanced cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be required. Your Ferguson, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gingivitis. Some more advanced treatments include:
- 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 underneath the gingiva and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Ferguson, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. Since 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 come about from the scaling.
- Restorative Dentistry. Ill-fitting dental crowns, dental implants, or crooked teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes staving off gingivitis harder.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are cleared away, your Ferguson, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you develop an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make certain the gingivitis does not reoccur. We will also schedule your next appointment to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help get rid of 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 usually only be treated with surgery. To avoid this, make an appointment with your Ferguson, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first see symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Ferguson, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have experienced the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think 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 Ferguson, 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.