Gingivitis Treatment in Shrewsbury, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Shrewsbury, 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? If that’s the 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 Shrewsbury, MO. We treat each patient as if they were a member of our own family. If you have developed symptoms of gingivitis, or just haven’t had your regular dentist’s appointment in a long time, call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.
While gingivitis can sometimes be painful, it is normally 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. For that reason it’s important to seek out gingivitis treatment right away. The CDC says that nearly half of 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 suspect you have gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your Shrewsbury, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Shrewsbury, MO the moment 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 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 forms on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This typically occurs in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs when food particles interact with the bacteria that are normally in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that bother your gums. Good dental hygiene is important 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 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 not removed, they irritate the gingiva and cause swelling. When not treated correctly, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, improper dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth twice a day or not having regular visits to your dentist is typically 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. Apprehensive patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Shrewsbury, MO resident and family to have the expert dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors related to 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 misaligned teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can see, your gum health can hint at your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Shrewsbury, MO dental office when symptoms start.
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. The usual 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 think you have gingivitis, it is important to contact your local Shrewsbury, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, daily oral health routine recommended by your Shrewsbury, MO dentist will usually 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 a year 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 what we do for our patients. We strive to teach you the best methods of taking care of your teeth and gums in order to fend off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease occurs anyway, and that’s when you require professional Shrewsbury, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it intensifies. A lot of times, a patient does not notice when gingivitis starts as the symptoms can be mild and not affect their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a qualified Shrewsbury, MO dentist are vital. We are able to observe early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first seek gingivitis treatment from your Shrewsbury, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This most often means checking 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 prevented and reversed with professional gingivitis treatment.
In more serious cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be required. Your Shrewsbury, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gums. 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 underneath the gums and remove the tarter that has accumulated. As scaling can leave the surface of the tooth rough, a Shrewsbury, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Since smoother surfaces are less complicated to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps stave off further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may arise from the scaling.
- Dental Restoration. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or crooked teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing more complicated, which makes fending off gingivitis more difficult.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are gone, your Shrewsbury, 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 make sure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and stave off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can lead to serious problems for your gums, which can typically only be treated with surgery. To avoid surgery, make an appointment with your Shrewsbury, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first see symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Shrewsbury, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the first symptoms of gingivitis, or believe you might have more advanced gum disease, it is imperative that you get in touch with Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment right away. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with Shrewsbury, 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.