Gingivitis Treatment in Florissant, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Florissant, MO. Are your gums 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 qualified, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Florissant, MO. We treat each patient like 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 sometimes painful, it is normally considered mild. However, if if it is not treated 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 imperative to receive gingivitis treatment immediately. 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 believe you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Florissant, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should seek professional gingivitis treatment in Florissant, MO the minute you start to see symptoms. 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 forms on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This normally occurs in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs as the result of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are normally in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Routine dental hygiene is vital because plaque builds up quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it hardens 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 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 left untreated, gingivitis can cause serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, bad dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth regularly or not having regular visits to the dentist’s office is usually the primary culprit. If you haven’t seen the dentist because you’re nervous about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel relaxed. Nervous patients are of particular interest to us as we want everyone in Florissant, MO to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors associated with gingivitis, such as:
- Tobacco use
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not adequately removing plaque in the gingiva
- 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 see, your gum health can be representative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Florissant, 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 enacting several defense mechanisms. Common 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 think you have gingivitis, it is essential to reach out to your local Florissant, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Florissant, MO dentist will usually stop gingivitis before it starts. The best methods 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 proper 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 our treatment plan for our patients. We want to teach 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 need trusted Florissant, 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 a professional Florissant, MO dentist are vital. We can 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 Florissant, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will strive to diagnose gingivitis quickly. 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 serious cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be needed. Your Florissant, 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 under the gums and get rid of the tarter that has built up. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Florissant, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. Since smoother surfaces are less difficult to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps fend of further tartar build-up, and has the additional benefit of reducing any irritation that may arise 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 complicated, which makes staving off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Florissant, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make sure the gingivitis does not reoccur. We will also schedule your next appointment to guarantee that your teeth and gums stay 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 left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious issues with your gums, which can typically only be cured with surgery. To avoid this last option, schedule an appointment with your Florissant, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first experience symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Florissant, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have noticed the first symptoms of gingivitis, or worry you may have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you call Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment immediately. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with Florissant, 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.