Do you have healthy gums?
This is an important question when it comes to your overall oral health and wellness. The health of our gums plays a key role in our dental health, the stability of the teeth, and overall physical health. If gum health is compromised, it can lead to complex dental health concerns and even tooth loss. If you have concerns about the health of your gums, schedule a visit to discuss them with Dr. Ribitch. We can provide comprehensive periodontal care and restorative dental services to meet your needs. Healthy gums are necessary for stable and healthy teeth!
Common Signs of Gum Disease
Gum disease is progressive in nature and early on can be hard to detect. The first stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis and may present one or more of these common symptoms:
- Bleeding gums: if your gums bleed when brushing and/or flossing, it’s time to visit the dentist for an exam.
- Red or swollen gums: if your gums are noticeably red or puffy, it could be gingivitis.
- Halitosis: are you suddenly being told you have bad breath? Consistent bad breath could be caused by gum disease, which is a bacterial infection.
Treating Gum Disease
Treating gum disease early often means that conservative measures can be effective. For gingivitis, we may recommend a scaling and planing procedure as part of your dental cleaning. This is a more extensive cleaning and scraping of plaque that is around tooth roots. Additional at-home oral hygiene can include anti-bacterial rinses.
Advanced gum disease or periodontitis will likely need more intensive treatment. Dr. Ribitich will create a personalized treatment plan to address the effects of your advanced gum disease which can include oral surgical procedures if there is extensive damage. There are many options available for today’s dental patients including advanced laser treatments that can restore the gums. We will work with you on an individual basis to find the right solution. Restoring your gums is important for the enjoyment of improved dental health and your best quality of life.
Some patients experience chronic gum disease due to genetic factors, medical conditions, certain medications, and even lifestyle habits. Routine dental care can help maintain gum health and keep more advanced disease at bay. Our dental care team always offers a personalized approach to your dentistry and will work with you to identify and manage any chronic dental concerns including gum disease.