Gum disease is an infection that damages the tissue and bone that supports the tooth. It can affect people of all ages and can lead to serious issues if left untreated. Visit Dr. Robert Beckelman at Leading Care Dental in Garden City, for your family dentistry needs. He helps patients with gum disease as well as any other dental issues.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease occurs when bacteria stick to the tooth's surface as well as the pockets surrounding the tooth. Soon, the bacteria multiply and begin to release toxins. This is when inflammation occurs. The mild form of gum disease is called gingivitis, and the more serious kind is called periodontitis.
It's important to get treatment for gum disease as soon as possible. That's because gum disease has been linked to cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. Gum disease eventually causes tooth loss too. If you live in Garden City and you need a family dentistry provider, set up an appointment with Dr. Robert Beckelman.
What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
When you have gum disease, there are several symptoms that may occur.
- When you brush your teeth, your gums bleed.
- You have a bad breath.
- Your gums are red and swollen.
- Your teeth wiggle or shift because they are loose.
- Your teeth look longer, but instead, your gums are shrinking.
- Your teeth are sensitive to cold drinks.
What are the Treatment Options for Gum Disease?
The goal of treatment is to eliminate bacteria from your teeth's pockets and stop the bone and tissue from being destroyed. Here are the ways you and your dentist treat gum disease:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Floss at least one time each day. Practice good oral hygiene so you can prevent infection.
- If you have a mild case of gingivitis, your dental hygienist will give your teeth a professional cleaning.
- When you have periodontitis, your dental professional will perform tooth scaling. During this procedure, a hygienist or dentist removes plaque and tartar from your teeth and from the tooth pockets.
- If you have periodontitis, your dental professional will also perform root planing. During root planing, the dentist or hygienist smooths the root surfaces. This allows the gums to properly heal and reattach to the teeth.
- Your dentist may prescribe medication or prescription mouthwashes to help fight the infection and help with the healing process.
- If scaling and root planing do not effectively treat your gum disease, the dentist will perform surgery on your gums and teeth. This will ensure that the dentist can clean bacteria from all of the areas that are difficult to reach.
- After the surgery, the dentist stitches the gums back into their positions so they tightly adhere to the teeth.
Receiving Treatment Options
If you have gum disease, get it treated as soon as possible. Untreated gum disease leads to a host of other diseases that can cause your health to deteriorate. To set up an appointment with Dr. Robert Beckelman, call (516) 256-2424. Leading Care Dental offers family dentistry services in Garden City, NY. Visit us to learn more about how we can provide you with quality dental care.