Gingivitis Treatment in Hanley Hills, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Hanley Hills, 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? In that case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers expert, friendly, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Hanley Hills, MO. We treat each patient like they’re family. If you are showing 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 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. That’s why it’s imperative to seek out gingivitis treatment at once. 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 think you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Hanley Hills, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Hanley Hills, MO the instant you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will routinely 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 needed, when plaque forms 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 commonly in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that irritate your gums. Good dental hygiene is essential 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. Tartar can only be removed by 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 inflammation. When left untreated, gingivitis can result in serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, bad dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth consistently or not having regular visits to the dentist’s office is typically the primary culprit. If you haven’t made an appointment with the dentist because you’re anxious about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel relaxed. Apprehensive patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Hanley Hills, MO resident and family to have the professional dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors associated with gingivitis, including:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully 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 representative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Hanley Hills, MO dental office when you first show symptoms.
Gingivitis Symptoms
When plaque and tartar build-up 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
- 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 believe you have gingivitis, it is essential to contact your local Hanley Hills, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Hanley Hills, 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 proper health practices, such as eating well and exercising to maintain a healthy immune system
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers have gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is an important part of our treatment plan for our patients. We endeavor to teach you how to best take care of your teeth and gums in order to prevent gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease appears anyway, and that’s when you need quality Hanley Hills, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis disappear before it worsens. A lot of 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-yearly teeth cleanings by a qualified Hanley Hills, MO dentist are vital. We can note early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially receive gingivitis treatment from your Hanley Hills, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will strive to diagnose gingivitis quickly. This usually includes 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 checking 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 progressive cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be necessary. Your Hanley Hills, 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. After numbing the area they are going to scale, your dentist then will use a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape below the gums and get rid of the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Hanley Hills, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Since smoother surfaces are easier to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps prevent further tartar build-up, and has the added benefit of reducing any irritation that may develop 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 difficult, which makes staving off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are gone, your Hanley Hills, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you develop an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative measures to make sure the gingivitis does not come back. We will also make your next appointment to guarantee that your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious problems for your gums, which can usually only be cured with surgery. To avoid surgery, schedule an appointment with your Hanley Hills, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first see symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Hanley Hills, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or believe you may have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you call Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Hanley Hills, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.