Gingivitis Treatment in Woodson Terrace, MO
Gingivitis Treatment in Woodson Terrace, MO. Are your gums red or inflamed? Is brushing your teeth painful? Or do you have bad breath you just can’t get rid of? In that case, you may have a case of gingivitis. Plaza Dental offers expert, courteous, and high-quality gingivitis treatment to families and individuals of all ages in Woodson Terrace, MO. We treat each patient as if 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 contact us online.
While gingivitis is occasionally 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 best to receive gingivitis treatment immediately. 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 Woodson Terrace, MO dental office at Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment today.
Gingivitis Treatment: When Do I Need It?
You should receive professional gingivitis treatment in Woodson Terrace, MO the moment you start to see symptoms. Untreated gingivitis will routinely 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 you need 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 usually develops 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 irritate 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 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 the dentist’s office 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 at ease. Worried patients are of special interest to us as we want everyone in Woodson Terrace, MO to have the professional dental care they need and deserve.
Besides poor good oral hygiene, there are also specific risk factors associated with gingivitis, such as:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Old age
- Dry Mouth
- Not fully removing plaque in the gingiva
- 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 reason why it’s important to immediately seek gingivitis treatment from a professional Woodson Terrace, 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 enacting several defense mechanisms. The usual symptoms of gingivitis include:
- 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 suspect you have gingivitis, it is imperative to contact your local Woodson Terrace, MO dentist right away.
Gingivitis Prevention
The simplest method of gingivitis treatment is prevention. A quality, daily oral health routine recommended by your Woodson Terrace, MO dentist will almost always 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-yearly 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 indispensable part of what we do for our patients. We want to educate you on how to best take 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 Woodson Terrace, 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 mild and not affect their daily quality of life. That is one of the reasons why twice-a-year teeth cleanings by a professional Woodson Terrace, MO dentist are so important. We can notice early symptoms of gingivitis and other gum disease and give you gingivitis treatment before it gets worse.
Gingivitis Treatment
When you first receive gingivitis treatment from your Woodson Terrace, MO dentist at Plaza Dental, your dentist will work to diagnose gingivitis quickly. 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 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 necessary. Your Woodson Terrace, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will understand how to best treat your gingivitis. 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 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 Woodson Terrace, MO dentist will then plane the root surfaces to make them smoother. As smoother surfaces are easier to brush and clean, scaling and root planing helps stave off further tartar build-up, and has the added benefit of lessening any irritation that may come about 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 more complicated, which makes staving off gingivitis more complicated.
- Ongoing Care. After the plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums are cleared away, your Woodson Terrace, MO dentist at Plaza Dental will help you create an at-home gingivitis treatment plan and preventative measures to guarantee that the gingivitis does not return. We will also schedule your next appointment to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy.
- Recommend a Prescription. Antimicrobial mouth rinse can help destroy harmful bacteria in your mouth and fend off further gingivitis.
- Gum Surgery. If left untreated, gingivitis can cause serious issues with your gums, which can usually only be cured with surgery. To avoid this last option, make an appointment with your Woodson Terrace, MO dentist at Plaza Dental when you first notice symptoms.
Call Plaza Dental for Your Woodson Terrace, MO Gingivitis Treatment Today
If you have shown the initial symptoms of gingivitis, or think you might have more advanced gum disease, it is imperative that you get in touch with Plaza Dental for gingivitis treatment immediately. Our dental team and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable, and enjoy working with Woodson Terrace, 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.