Good oral hygiene in Newcastle is extremely important to reduce your risk of developing problems like gingivitis and periodontitis. A good oral care routine is vital to remove plaque buildup and food debris from around your teeth and gums before the bacteria within plaque can cause issues like gingivitis. Most people have heard of gingivitis, but do you know the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
What Is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease where the gum tissue becomes inflamed, irritated and can start to bleed when you brush or floss. Other symptoms include noticing your gums have become red and swollen. It’s often called a silent disease because the symptoms are so mild and easy to overlook, but it’s important to catch gingivitis at this stage because it’s likely entirely reversible with proper professional dental care and an improved oral care routine at home.
What Causes Gingivitis?
Usually, gingivitis is caused by poor oral care, failing to brush and floss your teeth properly so plaque remains. Dental plaque soon hardens into tartar or calculus, a hard crusty substance that cannot be removed by brushing and flossing. The bacteria in plaque and tartar produce toxins that inflame and infect your gums, resulting in gingivitis initially.
How Is Gingivitis Diagnosed and Treated?
When we see patients regularly, we carefully assess their gum health, checking for the early signs of gingivitis. Otherwise, if you have noticed your gums have started to bleed, please make an appointment to come and see us at West Bowmanville Family Dental. If we discover you have gingivitis, we can frequently reverse it by professionally cleaning your teeth. Professional dental cleaning in Clarington gets rid of plaque and tartar buildup, eliminating the bacteria that cause the infection so your gums can start to heal more easily.
It is extremely easy to slip into a lax oral care routine where you miss certain areas of your mouth or are not toothbrush or brushing correctly. This is why we will also review how to care for your teeth at home, ensuring you brush and floss properly using the right techniques and tools. With this treatment, you should see your gums gradually become stronger and healthier so they no longer bleed, ensuring you no longer have gingivitis.
Unfortunately, without treatment, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis.
What Is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a far more serious form of gum disease, where the infection can spread from your gums into the bone around your teeth and the ligaments holding your teeth in their sockets. Without treatment, it can cause tooth loss or affect your overall health. The symptoms can become far more serious at this point, including gums that feel painful and bleed easily, other than during brushing and flossing. You may have bad breath, an unpleasant taste, and you may notice your gums have begun to recede.
How Is Periodontitis Diagnosed and Treated?
We can diagnose periodontitis by examining your gum health closely. The treatment prescribed depends on the severity of the infection but may well include scaling and root planing, a procedure that deep cleans your gums, including any tooth roots exposed by gum recession. You may need more frequent dental cleanings to help control the infection, as sometimes periodontitis is chronic and cannot be eliminated. If periodontitis has caused tooth loss, we can discuss the best way to replace these teeth. One option is with dental implants in Courtice, but we must ensure you have healthy gums before we can begin this treatment to help ensure it is successful.