Rockville Offers Highly Effective Gum Disease Prevention & Therapy in Rockville
Did you know that untreated gum disease could jeopardize your good health? Gum disease is a progressive infection of the tissues that surround and support your natural teeth, and it is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults. Because the disease can be painless in the early stages, you may not even realize you have it. Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of plaque and bacteria on our teeth and at your gum line. Research concerned with the connection between systemic disease and gum disease is ongoing, but many recent studies indicate that untreated gum disease is associated with other, more severe health conditions, including: diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Don't let gum disease wreak havoc on your good health. Schedule the gum disease prevention or therapy appointment you need to stay healthy with Dr. Sanker in Rockville, MD today.
Gum Disease Advances in Two Stages
- Gingivitis: In the early stage, gum disease is known as gingivitis. With gingivitis, your gums may turn red, purple, swollen and bleed after brushing or flossing. At this stage, gum disease is still easily reversible with a professional dental cleaning from Sanker, followed by increased daily brushing and flossing.
- Periodontitis: In the later stage, known as periodontitis, the disease can lead to the degeneration of the healthy tissue and bone that support your teeth. This may cause your teeth to loosen and shift in your mouth. This stage usually progresses slowly, but there can be periods of rapid progression. Aggressive periodontitis often occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Your gum disease treatment will depend upon how far your condition has progressed. Good dental care at home is the first step toward getting the disease under control. Dr. Sanker can often reverse your gum disease symptoms with a series of gentle but effective root scaling and planning appointments. Scaling is the process of removing plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. If you have developed gum pocketing, deep pockets around your teeth will have formed, allowing tartar deposits to form underneath your gum line. Root planing is the process of smoothing your root surfaces and removing any infected tissue structure so that bacteria is discouraged from repopulating the pockets and your gums can heal and reattach to your teeth naturally.
- Gums that bleed often
- Discolored, swollen, or tender gums
- Receding gums or the formation of gum pockets
- Halitosis
- Shifting teeth
- Bite changes
- A change in the fit of your denture