Gingivitis Treatment in Sunset Hills, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Sunset Hills, MO. Have your gums become red or swollen? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? If so, 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 Sunset Hills, MO. We treat each patient as if they were a member of our own family. If you are experiencing symptoms of gingivitis, or simply haven’t had your regular dental 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 usually 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. For that reason it’s important to receive gingivitis treatment immediately. 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 prominent health issues in the U.S. If you suspect you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Sunset 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 Sunset Hills, MO the second you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will frequently develop into more severe 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 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 essential because plaque builds up quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it solidifies 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 are allowed to accumulate, they irritate the gingiva and cause swelling. When not treated adequately, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, poor dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth twice a day or not having regular visits to the dentist’s office is most often 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. Anxious patients are of particular interest to us as we want everyone in Sunset Hills, MO to have the quality dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also certain risk factors associated with gingivitis, including:
- Tobacco use
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not sufficiently 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 see, your gum health can hint at your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Sunset Hills, 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 implementing several defense mechanisms. The usual 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 important to get in touch with your local Sunset Hills, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Sunset Hills, 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 correct health practices, such as eating well and exercising to keep your immune system up
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers develop gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is an essential part of our treatment plan for our patients. We endeavor to educate you on how to best take care of your teeth and gums in order to prevent gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease arises anyway, and that’s when you require trusted Sunset Hills, MO gingivitis treatment to help your gingivitis go away before it gets worse. 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 an expert Sunset Hills, MO dentist are vital. We are able to detect 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 Sunset Hills, MO dental office at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor to diagnose gingivitis rapidly. This most often includes checking your gums for bleeding, inflammation, 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 advanced cases, more advanced gingivitis treatment may be required. Your Sunset Hills, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will know how to best treat your gums. 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 utilize a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape underneath the gingiva and get rid of the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Sunset Hills, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. Since smoother surfaces are simpler 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 develop from the scaling.
- Restorative Dentistry. Poorly fitted dental crowns, dental implants, or misaligned teeth will not only irritate your gums but will also make brushing harder, which makes preventing gingivitis more complicated.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are removed, your Sunset Hills, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you implement an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative measures to guarantee that the gingivitis does not come back. We will also make your next appointment to ensure your teeth and gums remain 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 not treated properly, gingivitis can cause serious issues with your gums, which can generally only be treated with surgery. To avoid this last option, schedule an appointment with your Sunset Hills, MO dental team at Plaza Dental when you first observe symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Sunset Hills, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the first symptoms of gingivitis, or believe you may 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 enjoy working with Sunset Hills, MO individuals and families of all ages. Call Plaza Dental Center today at 314-361-1818 or fill out our online contact form.