Gingivitis Treatment in St. John, MO

Gingivitis Treatment in St. John, MO. Are your gums red or swollen? Does it hurt to brush your teeth? Or do you have chronic bad breath? 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 St. John, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own 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 fill out our online contact form.

While gingivitis is sometimes painful, it is usually considered mild. However, if if it is not treated it can lead to more severe dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. So it’s imperative to seek out gingivitis treatment at once. The CDC states 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 believe you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your St. John, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.

Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?

You should get professional gingivitis treatment in St. John, MO the second that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will frequently 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 needed, when plaque forms on your teeth and on and below the gum line. This typically occurs in three stages:

1. 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. Daily dental hygiene is vital because plaque accumulates quickly.
2. Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is not removed, 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.
3. 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 adequately, gingivitis can result in serious gum disease and dental problems.

Because gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque, poor 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 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 St. John, 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, including:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Old age
• Dry Mouth
• Not sufficiently 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 tell, your gum health can be representative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert St. John, MO dental office at the first sign of symptoms.

Gingivitis Symptoms

When plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth and in your gums, your gums will react by becoming irritated and enacting several defense mechanisms. Common symptoms of gingivitis are:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Bad breath you cannot get rid of
• Dark red gums
• Gum recession
• 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 reach out to your local St. John, MO dentist right away.

Gingivitis Prevention

The easiest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, consistent oral health routine recommended by your St. John, 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 daily
  • Flossing once a day
• Regular, twice-yearly 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 have 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 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 emerges anyway, and that’s when you require quality St. John, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis disappear 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 a qualified St. John, MO dentist are essential. We are able to note early signs of gingivitis and other gum disease and give you gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.

Gingivitis Treatment

When you initially receive gingivitis treatment from your St. John, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This typically 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 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 severe cases, more intense gingivitis treatment may be necessary. Your St. John, 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. After numbing the area they are going to scale, your dentist then will utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape below the gingiva and remove the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a St. John, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Because smoother surfaces are less difficult to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps prevent further tartar build-up, and has the extra benefit of reducing any irritation that may come about from the scaling.
• Dental Restoration. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or misaligned teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing more difficult, which makes staving off gingivitis harder.
• Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are gone, your St. John, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you create an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to make sure the gingivitis does not return. We will also make your next appointment to make certain your teeth and gums remain healthy.
• Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth wash can help remove harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
• Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can lead to serious issues with your gums, which can frequently only be cured with surgery. To avoid this last option, schedule an appointment with your St. John, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first show symptoms.

Call Plaza Dental for Your St. John, 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 reach out to Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment immediately. Our dental team and staff are courteous, caring, and knowledgeable, and love working with St. John, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.