Maintaining optimal oral health is about so much more than caring for individual teeth. Your smile is composed of a number of interconnected components, one of the most important of these is your gum tissue.
In order to keep your gum tissue healthy and strong it is imperative that you optimize your daily oral hygiene routine and combine this with high-quality professional care. Today our Cheney dentists are giving you some more information about dealing with problematic gum tissue and periodontal disease.
Your gum tissue is susceptible to developing infections just as your teeth can develop cavities. The same plaque and tartar that put your teeth at risk also threaten your oral tissues. If you have cuts or irritation in your gum tissue, or if your gums are receding, this can increase your risk of developing gum disease.
When gum disease first develops, you may not notice many changes to your smile. As time wears on however, you may see that your gums look swollen or red, and that they are prone to bleeding. Eventually, gum disease can lead to chronic bad breath—the same bacteria that infect your gum tissues also emit unpleasant odors in your mouth.
If gum disease is recognized in its earliest stages, it is much easier for you, as a patient, to take control of your smile. At this stage our team may recommend that you incorporate a mouth rinse into your daily routine. We’ll also assess your daily oral hygiene routine and tweak it to optimize it. A professional dental cleaning is also crucial for removing entrenched plaque and tartar, and giving your smile a clean slate. The goal is to refresh your smile and help your gum tissue heal and regenerate.
Once gum disease has taken root, it’s very difficult for patients to effectively fight it on their own. Partner with a dental professional to treat gum disease before it gets out of control. Remember, untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and even bone tissue deterioration.
As always, our Cheney dentists are here to answer any questions that you may have—give us a call to get started!