Gingivitis Treatment in Velda Village, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Velda Village, MO. Have your gums become red or puffy? 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, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Velda Village, MO. We treat each patient like they were a member of our own family. If you are showing symptoms of gingivitis, or simply 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 is sometimes painful, it is normally considered mild. However, if left untreated it can lead to more severe dental issues such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and even loss of jaw bone structure. So it’s important to receive gingivitis treatment immediately. 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 suspect you have gingivitis, make an appointment with your Velda Village, MO dental team at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should get professional gingivitis treatment in Velda Village, MO the minute that symptoms start. Untreated gingivitis will often develop into more severe gum disease that can only be treated with costly and painful surgeries. Below is some further 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 typically occurs in three stages:
- Plaque builds up. Plaque occurs as the result of food particles interacting with the bacteria that are already in your mouth. Plaque contains bacteria and produces toxins that bother your gums. Daily dental hygiene is important because plaque accumulates quickly.
- Plaque becomes tartar. When plaque is not removed, it solidifies 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 inflamed. 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 left untreated, gingivitis can cause serious gum disease and dental problems.
Because gingivitis is the result of a buildup of plaque, improper dental hygiene such as not brushing your teeth regularly or not having regular visits to your dentist is typically the primary culprit. If you haven’t been to the dentist because you’re nervous about sitting in the dentist’s chair, Plaza Dental Center will help you feel relaxed. Anxious patients are of particular interest to us as we want every Velda Village, 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 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 crooked teeth
- Certain prescription drugs
- Conditions that lower immunity, such as HIV or leukemia
As you can tell, your gum health can be indicative of your overall health. That’s another good reason to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from an expert Velda Village, 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 enacting several defense mechanisms. Typical 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 after brushing your teeth
If you think you have gingivitis, it is important to call your local Velda Village, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A good, consistent oral health regimen recommended by your Velda Village, MO dentist will generally stop gingivitis before it starts. The best means 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 keep your immune system up
- Not smoking (64 percent of smokers have gum disease)
- Control diabetes if you have it
At Plaza Dental Center, patient education is an essential part of what we do for our patients. We want to teach you how to best take care of your teeth and gums in order to stave off gingivitis and other dental problems. However, sometimes gum disease appears anyway, and that’s when you require trusted Velda Village, 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 minor and not impact their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a qualified Velda Village, MO dentist are essential. We can detect early symptoms of gingivitis and other gum disease and provide you with gingivitis treatment before it worsens.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you initially seek gingivitis treatment from your Velda Village, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will endeavor 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 looking 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 intense gingivitis treatment may be needed. Your Velda Village, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand 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 use a special instrument or ultrasonic scaler to scrape under the gums and remove the tarter that has built up. As scaling can cause the surface of your teeth to become rough, a Velda Village, 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 stave off 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 fending off gingivitis more complicated.
- Ongoing Care. Once the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are cleared away, your Velda Village, MO dental team at Plaza Dental will help you come up with an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative methods to guarantee that the gingivitis does not come back. We will also schedule your next appointment to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help remove harmful bacteria in your mouth and prevent further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If not treated properly, gingivitis can result in serious issues with your gums, which can generally only be cured with surgery. To avoid surgery, make an appointment with your Velda Village, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first notice symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Velda Village, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have noticed the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think you might have more advanced gum disease, it is incredibly important that you reach out to Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Velda Village, 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.