The same harmful oral bacteria that cause cavities can, over time, infect oral tissues as well. These infections are classified as either gum disease or periodontal disease, depending on the severity of the infection. Keep reading to learn more from our Glendale dentists…
The Basics of Gum Disease
When bacteria are able to infiltrate your oral tissues, the resulting infection is referred to as gum disease. If gum disease is left unchecked, it will intensify into periodontal disease. Both early-stage gum disease and periodontal disease can create unwanted symptoms like bad breath, sore gum tissue, and bleeding gums.
Related Dental Damage
If you are dealing with gum disease, then the harmful oral bacteria in your mouth are already starting to undermine the health of your smile. Gum disease can spread to the connective tissues that keep your teeth in place, and even to your jawbone tissue. Once the infection spreads, you may find that your teeth feel somewhat loose and are shifting along your gumline. In serious cases, gum disease results in tooth loss and jawbone deterioration. That is why it is so important to treat gum disease as promptly as possible
Improve Oral Hygiene For Gum Health
The primary thing that we need to do in order to treat gum disease is to minimize oral bacteria. The process begins with a through professional cleaning so that our team can clean plaque and tartar from your smile. Our Glendale dentists may also recommend that you tweak your at-home oral hygiene routine to maximize its efficacy; using a Waterpik or incorporating a mouth rinse into your daily schedule, can make a big difference.
If you are dealing with a severe, entrenched infection, our team will remove the diseased tissue in order to give your mouth a chance to heal. You may also benefit from gum grafts to build-up lost tissue.
No matter what kind of shape your smile is in today, we can help you maintain oral health for years to come!