Gingivitis Treatment in Northwoods, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Northwoods, MO. Are your gums red or inflamed? 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 Northwoods, MO. We treat each patient as if they were a member of our own family. If you are showing symptoms of gingivitis, or simply haven’t had your regular cleaning in a long time, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.
While gingivitis is sometimes painful, it is typically considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more serious dental problems such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. That’s why it’s best to receive gingivitis treatment right away. The CDC states 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 suspect you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Northwoods, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Northwoods, MO the instant you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will usually develop into more advanced gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some more information on gingivitis and how to know when to seek out 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 generally 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 bother your gums. Routine dental hygiene is essential 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. 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 left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by 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 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. Anxious patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Northwoods, MO resident and family to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors associated with gingivitis, such as:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully 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 good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Northwoods, MO dental office at the first sign 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 include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Chronic bad breath
- Dark red gums
- Gum recession
- Tender gums
- Painful chewing
- New sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
- Bleeding when brushing your teeth
If you suspect you have gingivitis, it is imperative to get in touch with your local Northwoods, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Northwoods, MO dentist will generally 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, biannual professional dental cleanings and polishing
- General good 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 indispensable part of what we do for our patients. We endeavor to show you the best means of taking care of your teeth and gums in order to fend off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease appears anyway, and that’s when you require professional Northwoods, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it gets worse. 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 Northwoods, MO dentist are so important. We are able to notice early signs of gingivitis and other dental issues and give you gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first seek gingivitis treatment from your Northwoods, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work 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 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 severe cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be necessary. Your Northwoods, 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. Your dentist will first numb the area they are going to scale, then will utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape below the gums and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Northwoods, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to smooth them out. As smoother surfaces are less difficult to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps stave off further tartar build-up, and has the added 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 more difficult, which makes staving off gingivitis harder.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Northwoods, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you implement an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make sure the gingivitis does not return. We will also schedule your next appointment to guarantee that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Write a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and prevent further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can result in serious problems for your gums, which can generally only be cured with surgery. To avoid this, schedule an appointment with your Northwoods, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Northwoods, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have seen the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or believe 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 courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with Northwoods, 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.