Healthy Gums Are Vital to a Healthy Body
September is Gum Care Awareness Month, and the importance of healthy gums to your physical health can't be overstated. Statistically, most studies show over 40% of Americans over the age of 30 have gum disease and since no one wants to smile if they have gum disease, maintaining healthy gums and teeth can contribute to your self-confidence and overall health .
The symptoms of GUM Disease:
The most common symptoms of gum disease include:
Bleeding gums
Red, swollen, or tender gums
Bad breath
Loosening or separating teeth
Painful gums
What should you do if you suspect you have gum disease?
You should visit your dentist for a thorough gum evaluation. At Valley Arts Dental the dentists and hygienists take baseline records of your gums often including photos, x-rays, and documenting key measurements. These are repeated and checked periodically throughout your dental health journey to ensure gum health.
How is gum disease treated?
Depending on the severity of your gum disease treatment can include:
Oral Hygiene Instruction: You should receive detailed instructions on how to personally optimize your oral health including,, brushing, interproximal aids, diet modification, and many more things that you can do
Scaling & Root planing: Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning below the gumline in order to treat gum disease. Scaling removes the plaque and tartar buildup from above and below the gumline. Root planing smoothes the tooth root and helps the gums reattach to the tooth.
Gum Surgery: If gum disease is more severe and does not respond to more conservative methods, gum surgery, and sometimes tooth extractions may be recommended
Why would somebody need Scaling and Root Planing?
Plaque is a sticky biofilm of bacteria that builds up in your mouth ( the biofilm in your mouth is often compared to the biofilm that builds up on a toilet bowl) . If your teeth aren’t cleaned well, plaque buildup forms. This can trigger various host responses ( responses by an individuals body to this bacteria) and can cause gums to become inflamed. When this continues - your gums start receding away from the tooth and forms spaces called pockets.
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